Aug. 30, 2006

Allentown, Pa. - Former Illini Jenna Hall, who completed her rookie season for the Philadelphia Force professional women's fastpitch softball team earned a spot on the All-NPF team.

Hall earned an at-large bid for the All-NPF team. Hall entered NPF play fresh off of an impressive career at the University of Illinois, including a stellar senior campaign in which she earned first team All-America honors. Hall continued her slugging power at the plate professionally, leading the Force in homeruns (6), RBIs (24), walks (21), and slugging percentage (.423). As a mainstay at first base, Hall committed only one error on the season.

Assistant GM Jen Carlo states, "Jenna had outstanding numbers coming out of a great college conference in the Big Ten. We needed a power hitting first baseman, and after watching Jenna through her senior year, we settled on a deal and signed her as a free agent right before spring training. She showed great adjustment at the plate and was a true offensive leader throughout the year. She's just one of those hitters that pitchers do not want to face, and that's great for the future of the Force."

Hall vastly improved her offensive game throughout the 2006 season. She claims, "The adjustment from college to the NPF was very difficult for me for the first few weeks. The competition is heightened and offensively you are facing the best pitchers in the country on a daily basis. And on top of that, you have the best defensive players on the field against you as well. But I also believe that when you are surrounded by such great players at all times, it raises the level of your game. I most definitely believe that is why I was able to turn myself around throughout the season, along with the help of my coaches."

The Force completed their season with a 14-28 mark and look forward to returning the Girls of Summer to ECTB Stadium at Bicentennial Park in May 2007.