West Long Branch, NJ -- Monmouth University sophomore designated player Kaitie Schumacher (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) has been named the Second Team All-Great Lakes Region, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has announced. Schumacher becomes the sixth Hawk to be named all-region in program history and the first since Nichole Alvarez in 2008. The award comes after Schumacher was named Northeast Conference Player of the Year and Most Improved Player last week. Schumacher also earned All-NEC First Team. Schumacher earned the award in an ultra-competitive region, which includes such high-major programs as Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan and Penn State, among others. She's the first Hawk to earn the award since Monmouth was relocated to the Great Lakes Region.
"We're again very proud of Kaitie's achievements this season," said Monmouth Head Coach Louie Berndt. "To be recognized among such a talented group of teams and players is quite an accomplishment. We're very excited about Kaitie's season this year and what the future holds for her and our team in the next two years."
Schumacher showed unbelievable improvement upon her freshman campaign. After hitting .203 with five home runs and 18 RBI's as a freshman (.155/2 HR/11 RBI's in NEC play), she posted a .388 average with nine home runs and 34 RBI's this season, including an NEC-best .421 average with five home runs and 16 RBI's in league play. Her slugging percentage jumped from .347 to .669, while her on-base percentage also saw a dramatic increase from .266 to .464. She finished first in the NEC in slugging percentage, second in batting average, third in on-base percentage and fourth in home runs.
Within the season, Schumacher also saw great improvement, going from a .291 hitter with three home runs and 13 RBI's in the season's first 21 games, before finishing with a .463 average with six home runs and 21 RBI's in the season's final 20 games. The surge bumped her average nearly 100 points to .388. She was instrumental in the Hawks' 7-0 finish to the regular season to claim the final NEC Tournament berth. She sparked the winning streak with a two home run, five RBI game at CCSU, before adding a pair of walk-off hits in the final weekend against Mount St. Mary's and LIU Brooklyn.