Colorado State University Athletics
Rams duo earns NFCA all-region honors
5/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 14, 2009
Complete NFCA all-region teams
By Danny Mattie
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State’s sophomore shortstop Caitlan Stem and freshman first baseman Christine Thomsen were recognized Thursday by the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association (NFCA) as members of the NFCA all-Pacific region softball team.
This marks the first-career all-region selections for both players and is the fifth time in the last six seasons that multiple Rams received the honor.
Stem, the only Rams player to start all 51 games, led CSU in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.372), slugging percentage (.576), on-base percentage (.440), runs scored (44), hits (64), triples (3), home runs (6) and walks (19), also ranking in the top 10 in the Mountain West Conference in each category, earning her first-career all-conference nod on Monday. Defensively, Stem also proved to be one of the league’s best, posting a .911 fielding percentage, and ranking second in the MWC with 121 assists from her shortstop position.
Thomsen, who ranked seventh in the MWC with a .994 fielding percentage after committing just two errors in 343 chances, was named as the Rams’ “Best Defensive Player,” by the CSU coaching staff, but also showed skill and poise beyond her years at the plate. In her first season, Thomsen hit .368 overall, including an impressive .409 mark against MWC opponents, and ranked as the Rams’ top RBI producer, driving in 32 runs. Thomsen also notched a team-best eight multiple-RBI games, including two contests in which she drove in four RBIs.
Chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, the honorees will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams, which will be announced May 27.
Stem and Thomsen were one of two players selected to the first team at their respective positions on the 26-player Pacific-region squad.
Colorado State finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 26-25, securing the team’s seventh consecutive season with at least 25 wins and a .500-or-better record.