June 19, 2008

Starkville, Miss. - In the 2008 Softball Louisville Slugger NAIA All-American and All-East Region teams announced today by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), five Shorter College Lady Hawks picked up honors. Libby Munson and Jessica Sanders were named Second Team All-American; Munson, Sanders, and Kandi Bruno were named East Region First Team, and Kerry Hammond and Lakyn Newton were named East Region Second Team.

The NFCA is the professional growth organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all competitive levels of play.

Munson, a freshman from Suwanee, Ga., pitched in 40 games for the Lady Hawks this season, going 28-5, with a 1.60 ERA. In her 214 innings pitched, she struck out 208 batters, walking only 65, while having an opponent batting average of .199. Not only did she perform on the mound, but also excelled at the plate. She was second on the team in batting average (.410), while leading the team in hits (87) and doubles (21).

Sanders, a senior from Bowdon, Ga., is the first Lady Hawk to pick up mulitple All-American honors in her career, as she was named NFCA Second Team All-American last season. Her impressive .378 batting average, .637 slugging percentage, 55 RBI and 11 home runs this year helped Shorter to their first ever SSAC Tournament title, and their standing as Region XIII runner-up.

Shorter ended their season in May, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA for a second season in a row, with a 50-14 record. This is the second year in their short five-year history they have received a bid to the elite 20-team field of the NAIA National Championships.

For more information on Shorter College softball or Shorter athletics' 17 intercollegiate sports, visit www.goshorterhawks.com.