NJAC NEWS ARCHIVE

 2005-06

May 10, 2006


MONTCLAIR'S TOTARO & CAMDEN'S SCHLICHTIG NAMED
NJAC SOFTBALL PLAYER & PITCHER OF THE YEAR


RED HAWKS' JIMENEZ TABBED AS LEAGUE'S TOP ROOKIE


Montclair State University senior pitcher/infielder Athanasia Totaro and Rutgers University-Camden senior pitcher Michelle Schlichtig have been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year respectively for the 2006 season.

A four-time NJAC all-conference selection, Totaro currently leads the conference in both hitting (.459) and on-base percentage (.547). In 41 games played for the Red Hawks, she has tallied 14 doubles, five home runs, 31 RBI and 41 runs scored. On the mound, she is 13-6 with a 1.90 earned run average and 93 strikeouts in 110.2 innings pitched. She currently ranks second in the NJAC in runs scored (41); second in hits (56); and third in slugging percentage (.697). Totaro led Montclair to the top-seed in the ECAC South Championship, as the Red Hawks will play host to the weekend portion of the six-team tournament beginning on May 13.

The 2004 NJAC Player of the Year, Schlichtig earned NJAC Pitcher of the Year honors for the second consecutive season. A three-time NJAC all-conference selection, she currently is 25-3 on the season with a 1.08 earned run average in 175.2 innings pitched. She currently leads the league in strikeouts (253), opponent batting average (.146), and saves (4). In 2006, Schlichtig led Camden to its second consecutive NJAC regular season championship and its second NJAC Tournament crown during her three-year career. The top-seeded Scarlet Raptors will host a seven-team NCAA Regional in Camden beginning on May 11.

Montclair State freshman shortstop Jennifer Jimenez was named the 2006 NJAC Rookie of the Year. A three-time Rookie of the Week selection this season, Jimenez currently is hitting .336 with five doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 48 RBI and 39 runs scored. Her 48 RBI currently lead the conference, while her 14 home runs are tied for the league lead while establishing a new Montclair single-season record.

Rutgers-Camden 11th-year head coach Carl Taylor was selected as the 2006 NJAC Coach of the Year by his peers. With an overall record of 211-115-2, Taylor led his 2006 squad to both the NJAC regular season and Tournament championships. Over the past three seasons, Taylor has guided the Raptors to an overall mark of 111-14-2, including three NCAA Tournament appearances.

 

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