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Munson, Pollock and Womble named NFCA First Team East Region
2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA NAIA All-Region Teams
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Shorter University had three players named to the 2011 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) East Region First Team according to an announcement made by the organization on Sunday.
Seniors Libby Munson and Kara Pollock and sophomore Jessica Womble were selected as East Region first teamers and are now eligible for selection onto the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America team, which will be released on Friday, May 27.
Shorter's trio of All-East Region picks have helped propel Shorter back into the Elite Eight of the NAIA Softball National Championship for the second straight year as each player enjoyed tremendous seasons for the Lady Hawks in 2011.
The All-East Region appointment is the fourth in the career of Munson, whose impeccable resume already includes four All-Southern States Athletic Conference accolades, three NAIA All-America selections and a second team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America nod in 2008.
Munson, Shorter's all-time leader in pitching wins, career ERA, strikeouts and shutouts, has pitched her way to a 27-5 record and 1.27 ERA thus far in 2011. At this year's national tournament, Munson, the SSAC Divisional Pitcher of the Year and infield Gold Glove winner, is 3-0, has yet to give up an earned run and has surrendered just five hits while striking out 18 in 19 innings.
The Suwanee, Ga., product has also exceled at the plate, where she serves as Shorter's all-time leader in at-bats, hits, doubles and RBI. Through 59 games this season, Munson is hitting .376 with 41 RBI, three triples and a team-high 17 doubles.
Pollock is enjoying her best season in a Lady Hawk uniform and her incredible success in the regular season has transferred into the postseason.
The former Collins Hill High standout, who came to Shorter after two successful seasons on the diamond with NCAA II University of West Georgia, hit .393 with a team-high nine homers and 61 RBI in 2011 -- all of those numbers are career-highs.
At the NAIA Softball National Championship, Pollock, one of four All-SSAC honorees from Shorter, hit .400 in pool play and delivered the game-winning two-run double in Shorter's 2-1 upset of fifth-ranked Central Baptist College in the finale of Pool E on Saturday, a win that sent Shorter into bracket play.
Womble has blossomed into one of Shorter's most valuable offensive weapons in 2011 after a stellar freshman season in 2010 that saw her named to the SSAC All-Freshman team.
The Loganville, Ga., native was an All-SSAC choice this season after she put up career numbers with a .437 batting average and seven triples, which led the entire SSAC. Womble, who played both left field and shortstop for the Lady Hawks this season, also hit eight doubles, belted three homers and drove in 41 runs while batting No. 2 in Shorter's order.
Her batting average led the team and her 18 stolen bases ranked third on Shorter's roster.
Shorter has now had 13 players selected to the NFCA All-Region team since 2007. The Lady Hawks have had three players named NFCA All-Americans over that same span -- Munson in 2008, Jessica Sanders in 2007 and 2008 and Tiffany Adams in 2010.
