Johnson, Mortensen Earn All-Summit League First Team Honors; Rivera, Tamayo Named to Second Team

ELMHURST, Ill.--Pitcher Whitney Johnson and right fielder Taylor Mortensen were named to the All-Summit League softball first team, while shortstop Nicole Rivera and designated player Katie Tamayo were second-team selections announced Wednesday, May 11, during the Summit League Softball tournament banquet at Western Illinois University.

Johnson was a first-team pick and Rivera was a first-team selection in 2009. Mortensen and Tamayo earned all-league honors for the first team.

North Dakota State (27-25, 17-7 Summit) is scheduled to play IPFW (28-13-1, 16-8 Summit) in the first round of the Summit League tournament at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12, in McKee Stadium.

Johnson, a sophomore righthander from Lake Crystal, Minn., compiled a 15-3 record with one save and a 1.25 earned run average in league play. She struck out 139 batters and walked 46 in 112 innings pitched. Johnson recorded six of her eight shutouts against league competition. She led the league in ERA, wins, strikeouts, opponent batting avg. (.142), innings pitched, and shutouts.

Mortensen, a junior from Sioux Falls, S.D., hit .435 in Summit League play with eight of her 10 home runs and 22 RBI. She scored 21 runs, was 6 for 6 in stolen bases and added three doubles. Mortensen led the league in batting and slugging pct. (.871), tied for 1st in home runs (8), and was 3rd in on-base pct. (.521), 5th in RBI (22), tied for 5th in runs scored, and tied for 9th in hits (27). She was a Player of the Week selection during the season.

Rivera, a senior from Lakeside, Calif., hit .356 with 23 runs scored and 10 RBI from the lead-off spot. She was 15 for 20 in stolen bases and added three doubles. Rivera was tied for 1st in stolen bases, 2nd in hits (32), and tied for 3rd in runs scored. She had a career-high 18-game hitting streak this season.

Tamayo, a junior from Garden Grove, Calif., hit .369 with three home runs and 19 RBI. She drew 15 walks, and added 14 runs scored four doubles and a triple. Tamayo was tied for 2nd in walks, 7th in on-base pct. (.476), tied for 8th in RBI, and 9th in batting. She was a Player of the Week selection during the season.

2011 Summit League Softball Team

First Team
Ashleigh Bousquet, IPFW, 3B, Fr.

Kaelene Curry, UMKC, SS, Jr.

Marissa Everitt, Oakland, UTL, Sr.

Kelly Fischer, UMKC, 2B, Jr.

Deanna Friese, UMKC, P, So.

Jamie Goss, Western Illinois, 1B, Jr.

Shelby Gott, Oakland, OF, Fr.

Whitney Johnson, North Dakota State, P, So.

Nikki Marinec, Western Illinois, C, Sr.

Taylor Mortensen, North Dakota State, OF, Jr.

Erin Schlotfeldt, Western Illinois, DP, Sr.

Anna Sokolik, UMKC, OF, Jr.

Second Team
Colleen Biebel, Western Illinois, OF, Sr.

Heather Black, Southern Utah, P, Jr.

Courtney Cronin, IPFW, P, Jr.

Erin Galloway, Oakland, 2B, So.

Erika Polidori, Oakland, C, Fr.

Jenavieve Purcell, Southern Utah, OF, Sr.

Nicole Rivera, North Dakota State, SS, Sr.

Regina Salvatore, Centenary, UTL, Sr.

Rachel Staschuk, IPFW, 1B, Sr.

Sarah Swanson, IPFW, OF, Sr.

Katie Tamayo, North Dakota State, DP, Jr.

Megan Ussary, UMKC, 3B, Jr.

Player of the YeaR: Kaelene Curry, UMKC

Pitcher of the Year: Deanna Friese, UMKC

Freshman of the Year: Ashleigh Bousquet, IPFW

Coach of the Year: Meredith Smith, UMKC