WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Freshman right-handed pitcher Molly Rathbun (Hebron, Conn.) has been selected as the 36th player in Eastern Connecticut State University fastpitch softball history to earn All-America honors when she was picked for the 2009 National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association/Louisville Slugger Division III All-America team.

Earlier named first-team All-New England Region by the NFCA, Rathbun was a second-team at-large selection to the All-America team. She was one of only five freshman picks to the 46-person team (15 first and second-teamers and 16 third-teamers). Rathbun was the only selection from the Little East Conference and was one of only five selections from the New England region.

While Rathbun becomes the program’s 36th All-America pick since 1982, she is the first to gain the honor since third baseman Michelle Cunningham was named to the second team in 1998. She is only the fifth freshman All-America in program history – first since outfielder Leanne Shoop was named to the first team in 1989.

The Warriors lead all New England institutions at all levels in total All-America selections.

“Molly was a dominate pitcher all year long,” praised eighth-year head coach Diana Pepin, who directed Eastern Connecticut to its fifth 20-win season in the last six years. “She is a competitor and a player who will give you all she has every inning of every game.”

Rathbun was 16-7 with three saves and a 0.79 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 159 1/3 innings this year for Eastern, which finished 26-13 and qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament as an at-large selection for the second straight year. Her pitching wins equal the 10th-most in a season in program history and equal the freshman record, originally set by Christia Mohan in 1987. Her became only the second pitcher in program history with as many as 200 strikeouts in a season, following Kim Durocher (245) in 1986. After only one season, Rathbun is already ranked fifth all-time in career strikeouts and tied for fifth in saves.

The 2009 Little East Conference and Eastern Connecticut State University Rookie-of-the-Year, Rathbun led the conference this year in strikeouts, lowest opponent batting average (.151), was tied for first in wins, was second in appearances (29), ERA, and innings, tied for second in saves, and fourth in starts (21). Through games of last Monday, she was ranked fifth nationally in both ERA and sixth in least hits allowed per seven innings (3.6).

Eight times, Rathbun struck out at least ten batters in a game and allowed only 12 extra-base hits all season. Twice, she fanned as many as 15 batters in a game. She recorded five one-hitters in her first 12 starts, four coming in her first nine starts..

Before developing shin splints late in the season, Rathbun was 16-3 with a 0.47 ERA through the regular season, with 187 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .130. In her second collegiate start, she pitched a complete-game three-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 4-0 shutout of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, ranked first nationally at the time. In complete-game losses to New England regional champion Tufts University and conference champion Rhode Island College, Rathbun did not allow an earned run.

“Molly has passion for the sport and is a team player who will do extraordinary things for the program by the end of her career,” pointed out Pepin.