Lizzi Leads Kean's All-NJAC Softball Picks

PITMAN, N.J. (4/29/09) - Junior centerfielder Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.) earned New Jersey Athletic Conference first-team honors to lead four Kean University softball players on the NJAC all-star teams, as voted on by the conference's 10 head coaches and announced Wednesday morning.

Junior right-hander Cassie Shotwell (Dunellen, N.J.) and senior shortstop Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) both earned second-team recognition, while junior designated player Allison Thibault (Garfield, N.J.) garnered honorable mention status.

A two-time first-team all-star, Lizzi (pictured right) batted .375 in 18 conference games (18-of-48) with 10 RBI, eight runs scored, two doubles, a triple and two homeruns. The reigning NJAC Player of the Week, Lizzi batted safely in all but four conference games this season.

On the season, Lizzi leads the regulars in batting average (.314) and hits (32), while also ranking second in RBI (16), runs scored (18) and homeruns (4).

Steinman earns second-team honors for the second time in her career, after also earning accolades as a second baseman back in 2007. A two-year starter at second base, Steinman moved over to shortstop early in the season and played all 18 conference games at shortstop.

In conference games, Steinman batted .306 (15-of-49), while leading the tea in RBI (12), runs scored (14), doubles (4) and homeruns (4). The program's all-time leader with 16 homeruns, Steinman has a team-high five homers this season.

Shotwell (pictured left) has had a breakout junior campaign on the mound for the Cougars, as she went 7-5 with a 1.64 earned run average in 13 appearances in NJAC games. She posted six complete game shutouts, including shutout victories over Ramapo College and Rutgers-Newark in the final week of the regular season.

At the plate, Shotwell batted .333 (13-of-39) with 13 hits, six RBI, three doubles and three runs scored in NJAC action.

A second-team all-star a year ago, Thibault batted .304 (7-of-23) with two runs scored and one RBI in 13 conference games this season. The team's fastest player, she is batting .294 (20-of-68) this season with eight runs scored.

The fifth-seed in the NJAC tournament, the Cougars face sixth-seeded Montclair State University in an elimination game on Friday, May 1, at 11 a.m., at top-seeded Rowan University.