LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the student-athletes chosen for this season’s NFCA Cal JC major awards on Thursday afternoon.
Palomar College’s Alexis Huey and Kiara Flaviani swept the NFCA Player and Portolite/NFCA Pitcher of the Year awards. College of San Mateo’s Love Cabanas earned Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year distinction, while Alivia Martinez from Citrus College scored New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe honors as Cal JC’s top base stealer.
Huey and Flaviani have spearheaded the South Region’s top team to a berth into the State Championship Tournament this weekend at Bakersfield College. Sophomore first baseman Huey adds to her postseason accolades after earning NFCA All-America status as well as being named the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) South Player of the Year. She is currently tied for the 3C2A’s lead with 22 home runs and is also tops in the Association with 72 runs, 80 hits, 73 RBI, 172 total bases and a .616 on-base percentage, while ranking second with a .548 batting average and 1.178 slugging percentage.
Flaviani also garnered NFCA All-America honors and is enjoying a tremendous sophomore campaign as the Comet’s main arm this season. She has appeared in 41 (40 starts) of Palomar’s 45 games, sporting a 35-1 record with a 2.17 ERA and 150 strikeouts over 197 innings of work. Her victories are eight more than the nearest competitor. Flaviani has held her opposition to a .238 batting average, owns a 1.14 WHIP and twirled two shutouts.
San Mateo sophomore Cabanas earned her first All-America honor in 2026 as the North Region’s top catcher as she has been pivotal in the Bulldogs run to the State Championship tournament as the 3C2A’s top overall seed with a 41-1 record. Cabanas heads into the weekend batting .437 with nine home runs, 33 RBI and 24 runs scored. She is nearly flawless behind the dish with a .994 fielding percentage and throwing out five of 16 runners attempting to steal.
Martinez, an NFCA All-America outfielder, earned the distinction as Cal JC’s top base stealer. The speedy sophomore swiped 38 bases in 40 attempts to go along with a .457 batting average, 71 runs scored 21 doubles, seven triples and 43 RBI. She ranked top 10 in the 3C2A in runs (2nd), doubles (4th), stolen bases (4th) and triples (9th). Martinez stole a season-high four bases at Glendale and three against Cuesta.
NFCA Cal JC All-America athletes must be nominated by their NFCA-member head coaches and are voted for by the coaches in their respective region. All major awards are selected and voted on by the full Cal JC head coaching membership.
2026 NFCA Cal JC Major Awards
NFCA Player of the Year: Alexis Huey, Palomar College
Portolite/NFCA Pitcher of the Year: Kiara Flaviani, Palomar College
Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year: Love Cabanas, College of San Mateo
New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe: Alivia Martinez, Citrus College
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!
