LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Over the course of the NFCA’s 2026 collegiate awards season, the Association recognized nine student-athletes as Diamond Sports/NFCA Catchers of the Year. Announced during a division’s All-America or Major Awards release, the distinction is bestowed on the student-athlete who was voted a first-team All-America catcher.
The NFCA All-America teams are voted on by the Association’s All-America Committees, or in the case of NJCAA Division III, Cal JC and NWAC, teams are voted on by the respective membership’s head coaches. The High School recipient will be announced on July 10.
This year’s collegiate Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year recipients were as follows:
NCAA Division I
Kendall Wells - University of Oklahoma
NFCA DI Freshman of the Year Wells shattered Oklahoma's and the NCAA Division I freshman single-season home run record with 39, second most in Division I this season. Her home runs, 81 RBI, and a 1.030 slugging percentage led the SEC - stats that all rank in the top-five nationally – numbers that earned her a spot as a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 finalist. Behind the plate, she posted a .993 field percentage and threw out three of just six runners attempting to steal all season.
NCAA Division II
Lexi Davis - Pittsburg State University
Davis, a native of Harrisburg, Ark., finished her senior season with a .400 batting average and led all Gorillas with 18 doubles, 14 home runs, 82 RBI and a .766 slugging percentage. The unanimous first-team All-American’s RBI and RBI per game (1.44) each rank third nationally. Davis also scored 50 runs, posted a .488 on-base percentage and notched 70 hits. Behind the dish, she threw out 11 base runners, recorded 292 putouts, 19 assists and a .984 fielding percentage.
NCAA Division III
Ashlyn Aven - Linfield University
Aven boasted a .977 fielding average in 266 defensive chances for the Wildcats. She won Division III’s home run crown with 25 and RBI title with 89, while finishing with a .409 batting average, 47 runs, 67 hits, 17 doubles, a .970 slugging percentage, .469 on-base percentage and 1.439 OPS through Linfield’s run to the NCAA Division III Softball World Series. She walked 23 times and only struck out four times in 164 at-bats.
NAIA
Grace Ross - University of the Cumberlands
Ross, a unanimous All-America selection , batted .409 with 19 home runs, 61 RBI and 59 runs scored leading the Patriots to a fourth consecutive NAIA Softball World Series appearance. Her long balls shattered the program’s single-season record and ranked fifth in the NAIA. Ross also registered 19 doubles, a .493 on-base percentage and an .828 slugging percentage. Defensively, she recorded a .970 fielding percentage and threw out seven runners attempting to steal.
NJCAA Division I
Traci Lowry - McLennan Community College
Lowry batted .507 with 16 doubles, six triples, three home runs and 38 RBI. She posted a .545 on-base percentage, slugged .784 and struck out just 11 times in 154 plate appearances. The freshman was nearly flawless on defense with a .996 fielding percentage, committing just one miscue in 237 chances. Only 15 players attempted to steal against her with Lowry throwing out five of those (33 percent).
NJCAA Division II
Mischa Reiners - Kirkwood Community College
Sophomore Reiners posted a .996 fielding percentage (263 putouts, 17 assists, one error) and gunned down six of the 10 runners who tried to run against her. Offensively, Reiners tied for fourth nationally in RBI (91) and eighth in at-bats (213) while hitting .385 with 73 runs, 15 doubles, six triples, 13 homers, 28 walks, just 10 strikeouts and 30 steals in 33 attempts.
NJCAA Division III
Lea Herkel - Joliet Junior College
Herkel batted .439 with 18 doubles, 41 RBI and 54 runs scored on the season, helping Joliet to a national quarterfinal appearance. The sophomore catcher was nearly flawless in the field, posting a .994 fielding percentage, committing one error in 160 chances, and throwing out three base runners attempting to steal.
Cal JC
Love Cabana - College of San Mateo
San Mateo sophomore Cabanas, the North Region’s first-team All-American catcher, pivotal in the Bulldogs run to the semifinals of the State Championship tournament as the 3C2A’s top overall seed with a 43-3 record. Cabanas finished the season batting .412 with nine home runs, 34 RBI and 24 runs scored. Posted a .994 fielding percentage and throwing out seven of 19 runners attempting to steal.
NWAC
Faith Hickman - Walla Walla Community College
Hickman was one of seven players that hit .400 or better this season for the (31-15) Warriors, batting .476 with 62 runs, 68 hits, 15 doubles, 21 homers, 77 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 19 walks. The freshman ranked third in the NWAC in homers and slugging percentage (1.035), fourth in RBI and fifth in total bases (148). She caught three of the five runners who attempted to steal against her and participated in three double plays on defense.
About National Fastpitch Coaches Association
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded awards program, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to and extensive drills database, to in-person events and National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!
