The Cal State Monterey Bay softball team had four players named to all-conference squads, it was announced Wednesday by the California Collegiate Athletic Association league office. Junior
Diane Ortiz took home first-team honors as well as Co-Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Senior
Jenny Montez joined Ortiz on first team while junior catcher
Shae Olds and sophomore center fielder
Jamie Moon was selected second team.
Head coach
Andrea Kenney was chosen Coach of the Year after guiding CSUMB to its first CCAA regular-season title with a 25-11 conference record. This is the first time this honor has been bestowed on a CSUMB coach.
"In a conference with legends such as (Humboldt State's) Frank Cheek coaching along side you, it is more then an honor to be named Coach of the Year," Kenney said. "My assistants coaches,
Nicole Deatherage and
Carlotta Zauli have played a huge role in our success and should be recognized. I would like to dedicate our season to the loving memory of my father Rea who passed away last May."
A transfer from Mt. Sac Junior College, Ortiz had a brilliant first season with the Otters, finishing the regular conference season 14-7 with a 1.64 ERA. She pitched 13 complete games, five of them shutouts, and gave up just one home run. Ortiz held opponents to a conference low .169 batting average while striking out 87 batters in her 120 and two-thirds innings.
Ortiz has also made her presence known at the plate, breaking into the lineup with a vengeance. She now leads the team with a .356 batting average and has four home runs.
"Diane is more then just a great pitcher, she is a pleasure to have on the team and a competitor through and through," Kenney said. "She is well deserving of any and all honors she receives."
Montez nabbed her first All-CCAA nod after batting .307 with 26 runs, five doubles, three triples, five homers, 21 RBI, 24 walks and a .564 slugging percentage against CCAA opponents. She is ranked 38th in the nation in walks, averaging .62 per game. "I am so happy for Jenny Montez, she is an outstanding player," Kenney said.
Olds earned her second career all-conference selection, batting .333 with 33 hits, 27 RBI, eight home runs and a .596 slugging percentage.
In her sophomore season, Moon racked up a team-high 29 runs and nine doubles against conference teams. She recorded a .304 batting average and batted in 15 runs.
"Shae is amazing and put up great number again this year," Kenney said. "Jamie is our model athlete...she could play anywhere on the field.
I am so happy and proud of the 2010 CSUMB Conference Championship team."
“CSUMB is extremely proud of Coach Kenney and the softball team's work - in the classroom and on the field,” said
Vince Otoupal, CSUMB Director of Athletics. “It is great to see the rest of the CCAA appreciate and acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of our team this year.”
