Hall of Fame
In 1995, the Montclair State softball team had a huge hole to fill in their catching department. Gone was All-American Kristi Kuchinski, who had started the last three seasons behind the plate. Stepping in was freshman Jerrilynn Acevedo, who put together a solid first year. Helping MSU to the NCAA Regional Championship Game where she would be named to the All-Tournament Team, Acevedo batted .312 with 10 doubles and 21 RBI starting all 48 games. The next season, Acevedo got a little better as her average improved to .321 with nine doubles, 20 runs scored and 18 walks as she was named an All-Region and All-America by the National Softball Coaches Association (NSCA). Now a fixture “behind the dish” for the Red Hawks, her career flourished in 1997 as Montclair put together the finest season the program had ever seen. Named First-Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region by the NSCA, Acevedo was an integral part in helping MSU to the NJAC and NCAA Regional titles and a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship. Batting 366 with 11 doubles and 29 RBI, Acevedo collected her second consecutive All-America accolade and was selected as the Diamond Sports / NSCAA Division III Catcher of the Year. During that magical run to the NCAA title game, Acevedo handled all 297 fielding chances successfully and threw out 16-of-36 would-be base stealers. She would wrap up her career in 1998 with her best season statistically as she hit .410 with 43 hits, 11 doubles and 29 runs batted in. She became the fourth player in program history to earn three All-American honors as she was named First Team by the NSCA in addition to collecting her second All-NJAC selection and third All-Region award. She finished her career ranked in the Top 10 in five categories, including doubles (2nd -26), hits (7th - 167) and RBI (5th-102) while spoting a career .351 batting aveage.
