Jayhawks Name 2011 Captains

Jan. 14, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas softball coach Megan Smith announced redshirt junior Liz Kocon and sophomores Alex Jones and Mariah Montgomery will serve as the Jayhawks’ captains for the 2011 season. The honor was announced Thursday evening during the team’s welcome back dinner, the official start of the upcoming softball campaign.

Kocon, an outfielder, started the first five games in 2010 before being hampered by a season-ending injury. Previously in 2009, Kocon shared the team lead with 30 RBIs, while her nine home runs tied for the ninth-most single-season round trippers in program history.

A versatile player who plays both pitcher and center field, Jones was named the team’s Rookie of the Year last season after leading the Jayhawks with 29 runs scored, 23 starts from the circle and 12 stolen bases. Her 55 hits on the season also tied for the team-high and she paced the squad with 16 multi-hit contests.

Montgomery was an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree and chosen as Kansas’ MVP in 2010 after having been one of two freshmen to start all 56 games. The 5-foot-6 infielder led KU with 11 doubles, 25 RBIs and 26 walks, which rank ninth all-time in a KU single season. Montgomery, who was also second on the team with a .302 batting average, picked up momentum in the second half of the season to pace the Jayhawks with a .294 batting average during Big 12 Conference games.