RED HAWKS PLACE SIX ON NFCA EAST
ALL-REGION TEAM

Montclair, NJ (5/15/07) – Coming off its best season in a decade, the Montclair State softball team reaped the benefits of their successful season as the Red Hawks placed six players on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III East All-Region Team.

Juniors Carolyn McCrea (Wharton, NJ/Jefferson) and Jackie Ferranti (Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) were named First Team pitcher and third baseman, respectively while sophomore shortstop Jennifer Jimenez (Linden, NJ/Linden) was named to the First Team as well. Megan Tantum (Ewing, NJ/Ewing), Kelly Karp (Edison, NJ/Edison) and Maureen Shockley (Magnolia, NJ/Triton) were selected to the Third Team.

All six players were integral in helping the Red Hawks to a 38-8 record, tying the single-season mark for wins. In addition, MSU won the NJAC regular-season championship and finished as the runner-up in the NCAA Division III Softball Montclair, NJ Regional - Montclair State's first trip to the NCAA's since 1999. MSU also won 18 straight games from March 14 through April 7, setting the school record for consecutive wins.

McCrea earns her first All-Region honor following an outstanding junior season in which she garnered NJAC Pitcher of the Year honors along with All-NJAC First Team accolades. Named the NFCA Division III Player of the Week for March 21, McCrea posted a 30-7 record, tying the school record for victories while registering a 1.57 ERA and 12 shutouts (the most since 1988). The righty fanned a single-season recor 223 batters and walked only 54 in 239 innings pitched. A two-time NJAC Pitcher of the Week, McCrea threw the fifth perfect game in MSU history vs. John Jay on March 27 and currently leads Division III in victories and is 15th in saves, 12th in ERA and 41st in strikeouts per seven innings. Twice this season, McCrea recorded two long shutout streaks - a 27 consecutive scoreless innings over six-game span from March 13 to March 15 and a 28-inning scoreless streak from Apri 17 to April 21. McCrea led the NJAC in innings pitched, strikeouts, wins and saves (3).

Jimenez, the NJAC Player of the Year, batted .439 with 61 hits, eight doubles, 12 home runs and 51 RBI while recording a slugging percentage of .770 and an on-base average of .530 in collecting her second consecutive All-Region honor. Jimenez led the NJAC in on-base percentage, RBI and walks (27) and was second in run scored (46), hits, home runs and total bases (107) while finishing third in batting average and slugging percentage. Jimenez put together a 12-game hitting streak to start the season and recorded 17 multiple-hit games, including five three hits or more and had at least one hit in 36 of 46 games.

Ferranti led the NJAC in runs scored with 46 as she batted ,368 with 56 hits, nine doubles, two triples, six home runs and 28 RBI from her leadoff position in the batting order. Ferranti stole eight bases and drew 22 walks. She finished ranked in the Top 10 in the NJAC in 10 different categories in the NJAC, including runs scored (1st), hits (4th), stolen bases (4th), batting average (8th), slugging percentage (.8th), on-base percentage (6th) and walks (5th). Ferranti posted a team-best 21 multiple-hit games, including four games of three or more. She strung together a 10-game hitting streak from March 15 to March 31, including six straight games of two or more hitsand had at least one hit in safely in 31 of 46 contests and has scored at least one run in 33 of 46 games.

Tantum hit .283 with 39 hits, four home runs and 31 RBI in her final season in a Montclair State uniform. Tantum, who also earned All-NJAC honors, also threw out six base runners and successfully handled 299 of 304 chances behind the plate while catching every inning for the Red Hawks.

Karp, a First-Team All-NJAC selection as well, began her year off in a big way with a grand slam in the season opener. From there the sophomore just got better as she hit .339 with 41 hits, 18 runs scored and 24 RBI while also swping six bases.

Shockley, who homered in both the NJAC and NCAA Tournaments, batted .313 with 45 hits, nine doubles and 23 RBI while also stealing six bases and recoding 12 walks.