All-decade softball team

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DANDY DECADE

Who better to pick an all-decade team for Illinois softball – which covers the program's entire existence – than beat writer Fred Kroner, who has seen more than 90 percent of the home games and traveled on the road to Ball State, Eastern Illinois and Illinois State? In the closest position battles (shortstop, third base), he gave the nod to defensive prowess over offensive power. The no-brainer of the team was the first baseman.

First baseman

Jenna Hall

Hometown: Minooka

Last year at Illinois: 2006

The report: Slugger led the nation in walks as a senior with 60. Incredibly, that year she was walked or hit by a pitch on 39 of 71 plate appearances in Big Ten Conference games. The school's only All-America first-teamer set the Illini's still-standing career batting record, hitting .357 during her four-year tenure.

Second baseman

Danielle Zymkowitz

Hometown: West Hills, Calif.

Last year at Illinois: 2011

The report: Can hit, can run and can field. The left-handed hitter and leadoff batter ranks among the school's career top 10 in each category with a .354 batting average, 33 stolen bases and a .980 fielding percentage. Tri-captain this year as a sophomore has started 102 straight games and had 15-game hitting streak.

Shortstop

Lindsey Hamma

Hometown: Wheeling

Last year at Illinois: 2004

The report: The first Illini to play professionally started all 254 games the school played while she was on campus. Compiled a career .345 batting average, the second best in Illinois annals. Third on the all-time toughest to strike out list, fanning on 10 percent of her at-bats. A two-time academic-All Big Ten selection.

Third baseman

Erin Jones

Hometown: Fullerton, Calif.

Last year at Illinois: 2004

The report: Toughest Illini of all time to strike out (fanning on average on 7.3 percent of her at-bats), started 253 games and compiled a .959 career fielding percentage. Ranks third in the school record book for hits with 227. Set UI marks for sacrifices in a game (three), season (10) and career (30).

Catcher

Janna Sartini

Hometown: Galt, Calif.

Last year at Illinois: 2004

The report: Four-year starter threw out 70 would-be base stealers and committed just 13 errors in 237 games. Holds the school record for being hit by a pitch with a total (36) that is more than double of any other Illini. Only Illini to win Gold Glove Award twice and only catcher ever to receive the award.

Outfielder

Rachelle Coriddi

Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas

Last year at Illinois: 2006

The report: Career record-holder in stolen bases (87) and triples (14), compiled a career .327 batting average, starting all 217 games in which she played. The team leader in stolen bases four consecutive seasons, including a single-season school record of 23 she reached as a freshman and as a senior.

Outfielder

LeeAnn Butcher

Hometown: Casey

Last year at Illinois: 2005

The report: Slapper never hit a collegiate home run and totaled just six extra-base hits as an Illini but was a lifetime .305 hitter (tied for the Illini's fifth-best mark) and one of the school's five All-Big Ten first-team selections. Also ranks in the top 10 in runs scored, on-base average and stolen base percentage.

Outfielder

Hope Howell

Hometown: Lithonia, Ga.

Last year at Illinois: 2010

The report: Current junior is batting above .300 for the third straight year and has started 156 of the 157 games she has played. First two years, batted better against Big Ten pitching than against non-league foes. With four league games left this season, that streak is still intact (.362 conference to .326 overall).

Pitcher

Amanda Fortune

Hometown: Newhall, Calif.

Last year at Illinois: 2004

The report: Right-hander a model of consistency. En route to winning a school-record 80 career games, had an ERA of 1.89, or lower, all four seasons. Ranked 12th nationally for wins (24) as a junior following off-season surgery to repair a ligament in her biceps. Her 31 wins as a senior remains the UI standard.

Utility

Angelena Mexicano

Hometown: San Jose, Calif.

Last year at Illinois: 2008

The report: Slugging shortstop set career marks for home runs (51), runs batted in (164), runs scored (167) and slugging percentage (.597). Broke the Big Ten single-season home run mark as a senior (24), with a total that ranked second nationally. Third all-time in Big Ten for career homers.

Designated hitter

Shanna Diller

Hometown: Bloomington

Last year at Illinois: 2008

The report: Third baseman finished second in school career record book for homers (37), runs batted in (158) and total bases (364). Was selected to ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District first team two consecutive years, the school's first two-time honoree. Started all 221 games she played in as an Illini.

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