LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the student-athletes chosen for this season’s quartet of NFCA NWAC major end-of-the-season awards.
The Mt. Hood Community College duo of Ava Carroll and Bella Carazo took home TUCCI/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year honors, while Lower Columbia College’s tandem of Sawyer Stenson and Lexi Grumbois captured Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year and New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe Award honors.
NFCA All-Americans Carroll and Carazo keyed Mt. Hood to a 46-4 overall record and 2024 NWAC Championship. Carroll, the NWAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, was one of the top offensive threats in the NWAC all season. The freshman outfielder ranked in the top three of several categories with a .529 batting average (3rd), 25 doubles (2nd), 92 base hits (3rd), 78 runs scored (2nd) and a .582 slugging percentage. Carroll also ranked ninth with a .925 slugging percentage and 10th with 14 home runs.
Freshman Carzao won the NWAC’s ERA title at 1.27 as the only league pitcher under a 2.00 ERA, which was nearly a full run lower than her nearest competitor. She also held opponents to a mere .149 batting average, recorded six shutouts and struck out 229 batters, both tops in the conference, to go along with 12.69 strikeout per seven innings (2nd) and a 1.31 WHIP (5th).
Stenson earned the Diamond Catcher accolade after being voted as the NWAC’s All-American at that position. Stenson exploded at the NWAC Championships, launching seven home runs, driving in 17 and scoring nine times helping the Red Devils reach the semifinals. Following that performance, the sophomore led the NWAC with 80 RBI, ranked third with 24 home runs and a .988 slugging percentage. Stenson batted .444 with 16 doubles, 66 runs scored and a .513 on-base percentage.
Grumbois, the NWAC batting champion, swiped a conference-best 37 bases in 39 attempts to earn the Golden Shoe plaudit. Along with her .593 batting average, Grumbois also topped the conference with a .644 on-base percentage, 108 base hits and 26 doubles. The freshman infielder ranked fourth with 77 runs scored and 10th with a .912 slugging percentage.
NFCA-member head coaches nominate and vote for NWAC All-Americans. All major awards are selected and voted on by the full NWAC head coaching membership.
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