Fastpitch News, a publication dedicated to covering women's fastpitch softball, has named Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball player Molly Jacobsen to its 2018 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Preseason All-American First Team.
Jacobsen, a sophomore from Adel, was one of two Iowa community college players named to the first team, joining Leilani San Pedro of Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC).
Jacobsen was named to the 2017 Fastpitch News NJCAA Division II All-American First Team announced at the conclusion of the 2017 season. She was also named the NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
Jacobsen compiled a 25-4 record and a 1.08 earned run average during the 2017 season. She finished third nationally in wins, second in earned run average and second in strikeouts with 273. Jacobsen, who averaged 11.22 strikeouts a game, pitched 170 and a third innings, allowing 38 runs, 28 earned runs, on 105 hits. She walked 37 batters and received five of the eight first-place votes for the best player in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). Opposing hitters batted .171 against Jacobsen.
Jacobsen was also a key offensive player for the Bears, hitting .398 with an on-base percentage of .449 and a slugging percentage of .670. She had 35 hits in 88 at-bats, including nine doubles and five home runs. She drove in 23 runs and scored 21 runs.
Jacobsen helped the DMACC softball team to a 47-9 record in 2017. The record including three winning streaks of seven games or more and a 24-game winning streak late in the season. The Bears tied Kirkwood Community College (KCC) for the regular season championship in the ICCAC with a 24-2 record, won the NJCAA Region XI-A championship and the NJCAA District G title to advance to the NJCAA DII Softball Championship for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time in the past six seasons. DMACC won its tournament opener, then dropped its next to games and was eliminated from further tournament play.
The 2018 DMACC softball team opens the season in the Cowtown Classic February 16 and 17 at Fort Worth, Texas. The Bears will face Hill College in their tournament opener.