Jess Ferreira Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America

Suffolk University Softball senior shortstop Jess Ferreira (Cambridge, MA) was named to the 2009 Lousiville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-American. Ferreira was a third team selection by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). This marks the second time in her four-year career that Ferreira has received this honor, as she was also named an All-American in her freshman campaign in 2006.

Ferreira finished up a remarkable career in 2009 as she continued to pile up the awards and put her name in the record books. Ferreira was named Great Northeast Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. Ferreira finished the season hitting .484, with 10 home runs, 49 runs batted in 40 games played for the Rams. Her .951 slugging percentage ranked fourth among all NCAA Division-III Softball players in the nation, while she lead the GNAC with seven triples and ten homers and was second in on-base percentage (.561) and total bases (116) and hits (59). Ferreira was also named to the NFCA All-Northeast Region first team, as well as being a first team All-Conference selection by the GNAC. She was named GNAC Player of the Week twice during the season, including on April 6th when she picked up her 200th career hit versus Norwich University. That week she was also named Regional Player of the Week by D-III Softball the Newsletter. Prior to the season, she was named a Preseason All-American by the weekly publication.

Ferreira finishes her four-year career in Rams blue and gold with astounding numbers that will place her in the career leaders' record books among all NCAA Division-III Softball players. In 155 games played, she finishes with a .471 batting average (tied 24th all-time), 37 home runs (tied 14th all-time), 194 RBI (tied 8th all-time) and 227 career hits. She also boasts a .902 career slugging percentage (7th all-time) and a .531 career on-base percentage.  In 2008, Ferreira led the nation with a 1.073 slugging percentage.

Aside from her excellence on the field, Ferreira was also recognized for her efforts in the classroom as she was awarded Suffolk University's Charles Law Award Student-Athlete Award, an honor that recognizes a student-athlete for excellence in athletics and academics. Ferreira currently maintains a 3.29 GPA as a Criminology & Law major. For the past two year she has also served as President of Suffolk's Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).

Courtesy: Suffolk Athletic Communications