LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Florida shortstop Skylar Wallace and University of Tennessee’s Ashley Rogers captured the 2023 TUCCI/NFCA Division I Player and Pitcher of the Year awards, respectively.
Wallace, a unanimous first-team NFCA All-American, was the only player in the nation with 65 or more runs (72), 55 or more RBI (55), 45 or more walks (51) and 30 or more stolen bases (30-for-31). The top three finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year led Division I with a .980 slugging percentage and finished second with a .595 on-base percentage and eight triples. Wallace, who nabbed SEC Player of the Year honors, also ranked fourth in walks per game (0.91), fifth in total bases (147), seventh in home runs (19) and ninth in batting (.447). She was strong defensively as well, sporting a .974 field percentage with only five miscues in 191 chances at shortstop.
Rogers dominated the circle in 2023 earning first-team NFCA All-America honors. Behind an 18-1 record and a 0.92 ERA, the Lady Vols’ ace played a pivotal role in her team reaching the Women’s College World Series for the first time in eight years and UT finishing as national semifinalists. Appearing 25 games, the top 10 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year owned the nation’s fourth lowest ERA, struck out 179 batters and held the opposition to a .134 batting average. Rogers also registered a 0.78 WHIP and twirled six shutouts in 144 innings of work.
The Player of the Year award was created to honor the outstanding athletic achievements among softball student-athletes. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year.
The awards are voted on by the selected members of the NFCA Division I All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the NFCA’s 10 regions. To be eligible, a student-athlete’s head coach must be a member.
Player & Pitcher of the Year Winners
2023 – Skylar Wallace, Florida (Player) / Ashley Rogers, Tennessee (Pitcher)
2022 – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma (Player) / Georgina Corrick, USF (Pitcher)
2021 – Rachel Garcia, UCLA (Player) / Montana Fouts, Alabama (Pitcher)
2019 – Abbey Cheek, Kentucky (Player) / Rachel Garcia, UCLA (Pitcher)
2018 – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
2017 – Megan Good, James Madison University
2016 – Sierra Romero, Michigan
The awards were not presented in 2020.
The NFCA began awarding a Player and Pitcher of the Year in 2019.
Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its extensive Awards & Scholarships platform, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts its vast library of digital education a National Convention.
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