June 1, 2006 | Softball
June 1, 2006
Oklahoma City, Okla. -
Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Teams
Illinois' Jenna Hall has been named the first baseman on the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America First Team. The senior slugger led the nation in walks (60) while ranking second in the country in batting average (.481) good for a .651 on-base percentage. She becomes Illinois' first All-American in softball.
"It's satisfying to have all the hard work over the summer and in the last four years pay off," Hall said from Akron, Ohio, where she is making her professional debut this weekend playing for the Philadelphia Force. "This honor caps off what was a great experience playing at Illinois."
Hall was as dominating of a player as anyone in the country during the first half of the season, amassing 11 home runs before the Big Ten season started. Her batting average was as high as .514 on April 26. Her slugging percentage hovered around the 1.000 mark causing the softball community to take notice. Hall was recognized as one of 25 finalists for USA Softball Player of the Year.
To show how much opposing coaches respected Hall, she was walked 42 times, 15 of those intentionally, from March 31 through the end of the season, a span of 27 games. She has the rare combination of average, with the ability to get hits to all fields, and power.
Hall was fourth nationally in slugging percentage (.847) while leading the nation in walks (60). The most prolific slugger in Illinois history, Hall is Illinois' all-time leader in batting average (.357), home runs (33), RBI (142), slugging percentage (.580) and on-base percentage (.486). She ranks 15th on the NCAA all-time walks list with 148 and sixth all-time in intentional walks with 24.
Hall earned Big Ten Player of the Week after having had one of the best offensive weekends in Illinois softball history. She slugged four home runs at the USF/Adidas Tournament in Clearwater, Fla., including one that helped the Illini upset No. 23 Virginia Tech.
Hall was one of two Big Ten athletes on the NFCA All-America First team, joining Michigan's Jennie Ritter. Northwestern, who is representing the Big Ten in the College World Series this weekend, had three players make second or third team, including fellow first baseman Garland Cooper, a third team choice. The Wildcats pitcher Eileen Canney was listed second team while shortstop Tammy Williams was third team. Michigan catcher Becky Marx was a third team selection as well.
