BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Kirsten Shortridge, Jazz Jackson and Juliana Santos of the No. 20 LSU softball team earned All-SEC accolades Wednesday as announced by the league office.
Shortridge notched All-SEC First-Team honors, while Jackson picked up an All-SEC Second-Team selection. Santos was named to the SEC All-Freshman squad.
LSU (32-15-1, 15-10-1 SEC) has racked up 29 All-SEC First-Team picks and placed at least one player on the All-SEC First Team in 12 of 13 seasons since softball was reinstated in 1997.
“Congratulations to all three of our All-SEC representatives, who had superb seasons,” head coach Yvette Girouard said. “It’s always nice to see players get rewarded for all the hard work they put in on and off the field.”
Shortridge ranked second and third in the SEC with 74 hits on a .430 batting average. Her .430 batting average is currently second in program history only behind Ashee Ducote’s .431 mark set during the 2000 season. She tallied hits in 39 of 48 games, including a conference best 25 multi-hit efforts. The Texas native also swiped 24 stolen bases.
“People talk about five-tool athletes and Kirsten goes beyond that,” Girouard said. “There’s no question that she is a most dynamic player on the field. She possesses so many weapons from her speed and power on offense to go along with her range on defense in centerfield to the ability to pitch a shutout.”
Jackson returned to the All-SEC Second Team after earning similar honors as a freshman in 2007. She batted .322 and hit safely in 20 of 25 conference games. The Texas native totaled 13 multi-hit games, including a pair off of Florida ace and SEC Pitcher of the Year Stacey Nelson.
“Jazz had one of her best seasons as a Tiger,” Girouard said. “She returned to the level we know she can play at producing key hits and turning in an excellent defensive season.”
Santos contributed a solid rookie campaign with a .278 average, four home runs and 25 RBIs. Her 25 RBIs were third on the team and 19 of them came against SEC opponents. The California native started 47 of LSU’s 48 games at shortstop and earned SEC Freshman of the Week back on April 13.
“Juliana is not your prototypical shortstop with a big-cannon arm, but she makes all the plays that those players make,” Girouard said. “The thing I love about her the most is that she’s a fighter, who goes all-out, all the time.”
The Tigers head into the SEC Tournament winners of five of its last six games highlighted by a 1.14 ERA by the LSU pitching staff. Cody Trahan has gone 4-0 with a trio of complete games and limited opponents to a .133 batting average.
On offense, Shortridge is 13-for-18 over her last six games with a home run and five RBIs. Rachel Mitchell also has racked up six RBIs.
“We don’t take being in the SEC Tournament for granted because you have to earn your way in during the season,” Girouard said. “It’s a big challenge to face Tennessee on their home field. Hopefully, we’ll play better than we did against them during the regular season.”
First pitch of LSU’s opening round game against Tennessee is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted live on The X 104.5/104.9 FM. Patrick Wright and Matt Dunaway will call the action and live stats also will be available on LSUSports.net.
2009 SEC Coaches’ Postseason Awards
First Team All-SEC
P – Stacey Nelson, Florida
P – Kelsi Dunne, Alabama
IF – Molly Johnson, Kentucky
IF – Aja Paculba, Florida
IF – Alisa Goler, Georgia
IF – Kelley Montalvo, Alabama
OF – Brittany Rogers, Alabama
OF – Taylor Schlopy, Georgia
OF – Kelsey Bruder, Florida
OF – Kirsten Shortridge, LSU
C – Chelsea Bramlett, Mississippi State
DP/U – Charlotte Morgan, Alabama
Second Team All-SEC
P – Stephanie Brombacher, Florida
P – Christie Hamilton, Georgia
IF – Ali Gardiner, Florida
IF – Tiffany Huff, Tennessee
IF – Megan Bush, Florida
IF – Brianna Hesson, Georgia
OF – Francesca Enea, Florida
OF – Ka’ili Smith, Mississippi State
OF – Jazz Jackson, LSU
OF – Myesha Finney, Auburn
C – Megan Yocke, Kentucky
DP/U – Lauren Grill, Ole Miss
Freshman All-SEC
P – Chanda Bell, Kentucky
P – Cat Hosfield, Tennessee
IF – Brittany Cervantes, Kentucky
IF – Jessica Spigner, Tennessee
IF – Juliana Santos, LSU
IF – Brittany Griffiths, Arkansas
OF – Cassandra Reilly-Boccia, Alabama
OF – Ka’ili Smith, Mississippi State
OF – Alicia Sisco, Florida
OF – Corrine Doornberg, Ole Miss
OF – Michelle Moultrie, Florida
C – Kristyn Sandberg, Georiga
DP/U – Amanda Locke, Alabama
SEC All-Defensive
P – Stacey Nelson, Florida
C – Ashley Holcombe, Alabama
1B – Ali Gardiner, Florida
2B – Aja Paculba, Florida
SS – Kristin Schnake, Georgia
3B – Kelley Montalvo, Alabama
LF – Myesha Finney, Auburn;
Adele Voigt, South Carolina
CF – Brittany Rogers, Alabama
RF – Kelsey Bruder, Florida
Player of the Year
Charlotte Morgan, Alabama
Pitcher of the Year
Stacey Nelson, Florida
Coach of the Year
Tim Walton, Florida
Freshman of the Year
Amanda Locke, Alabama
Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Lillian Hammond, Tennessee