Oregon's Salling Named First Team All-American

This year Jenn Salling led the Ducks to the postseason and a 44-19 record, Oregon’s most victories since 1989.

Salling is Oregon's first, first team All-American since Julie Cavanaugh in 1991. Photo: goducks.com

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oregon freshman shortstop Jenn Salling was named to the 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first team on Wednesday, announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Salling, a redshirt freshman, is the first Oregon player to receive first team All-American accolades since Julie Cavanaugh in 1991.

Voted the Pac-10 Conference Newcomer of the Year earlier this month, Salling is just the third player in Oregon softball history to be named to the All-America first team.

This year she led the Ducks to the postseason and a 44-19 record, Oregon’s most victories since 1989.

The only Oregon player to receive first team Pac-10 honors this year, Salling set five new individual records for the Ducks in 2007 including; batting average (.481), RBIs (73), total bases (138), slugging percentage (.873) and walks (46).

In addition she led the conference in RBIs, while her batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage were second in the league.

Salling is one of only two freshman, the other being Mississippi State’s Chelsea Bramlett, named first team All-America and is one of six players from the Pac-10.

In addition this season, the Port Coquitlam, B.C., native totaled 76 hits with 14 home runs (two in the postseason), 10 doubles and five triples.

Voted by her teammates as this year’s Most Outstanding Player and Offensive MVP, she also scored 55 runs, stole 18 bases and led the Pac-10 with 192 assists.

She was also the first Oregon player to be named to the Pac-10 first team since Ani Nyhus in 2004, while becoming the first player in program history to be named Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year.

Salling made all 63 starts at shortstop and in the third spot of the lineup for Oregon, and was also a Top 10 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award; one of four players from the Pac-10 selected and the only freshman.

She led the team with 19 multiple-RBI games, and also had the longest hitting streak of any player on the team (13 games).

Fifty-four players received All-America honors between the first, second and third teams. Salling was one of 18 chosen to the first team.

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