LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Moravian’s Sarah DeStefano and Christopher Newport’s Candace Slaw claimed the latest Division III Wilson/NFCA Pitcher and Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week honors of the 2025 season on Tuesday.
Junior right-hander DeStefano had a 4-0 week for the newly-ranked (No. 22) Greyhounds, which included an 82-pitch, four-hitter against then-No. 9 Trine. She also had a two-hitter against Rensselaer, tossed a three-hitter versus Neumann, and recorded a five-hitter versus Gustavus Adolphus.
For the week, the Ringoes, N.J., native compiled a 0.88 earned-run average with two shutouts, 23 strikeouts and just 14 hits allowed over 24 innings in the circle. DeStefano also helped herself at the plate, hitting .333 (5-for-15) with a double, two stolen bases, a walk and four runs batted in.
Meanwhile, sophomore Slaw batted .826 (19-for-23) with four doubles, six steals and six RBI for the No. 7 Captains. She had multiple hits in all six games last week, including three, three-hit games and two four-hit contests. The Rappahannock, Va., product had two doubles among her four hits, plus two runs scored and four RBI against Arcadia on Saturday.
Slaw’s other four-hit game included another double and two more runs in the Christopher Newport’s victory over then-No. 15 Berry on Sunday.
Other Top Performances
Katie Blanch, Williams – one-hitter versus Springfield, 0.60 WHIP, CG, 2 BB, 6 K; Teagan Buckley, Simmons – .407 AVG, .892 OPS, 2B, 4 RBI, 5 SB; Sydney Fleming, Williams – .429 AVG, 2 R, 3B, 3 RBI, 1.143 OPS; Katlyn Gandara, Redlands – perfect game (5 IP, 4 K) against Susquehanna; Kyra Holtje, Moravian – .480 AVG, 11 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 4 BB; Arianna Jalomo, Kenyon – .690 (20-for-29), 12 R, 4 2B, 3B, 17 RBI, 12-game hit streak; Piper Kinney, Simmons – 2-1, 3.09 ERA, 12 K, plus .360 AVG, 4 R, 2 2B, 5 RBI at plate; Maggie Leveille, Adrian – .455 AVG, 15 H, 6 2B, 3 HR, 13 RBI; Rylee Lutz, Rowan – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 11 IP, 12 K, .111 OPP AVG; Jamie Martin, Christopher Newport – 6 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 5 K in win over then-No. 15 Berry; Maya Palos, Whittier – .667 (8-for-12), 6 R, 2 HR, 9 RBI; Abigail Pawlowski, Rowan – .429 AVG, 6 R, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 BB, 1.786 OPS; Macee Schang, Adrian – 4-1 in five appearances, 0.48 ERA, 29 IP, 5 BB, 39 K; Zoe Smithson, Pacific Lutheran – .619 AVG, 2 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR including grand slam; Ellen Stockman, Salisbury – .500 AVG, 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1.200 SLG, 34 PO, 3 A, 0 E, plus two scoreless innings in circle; Morgan Tucker, Virginia Wesleyan – .692 (9-for-13), 3 R, 2B, HR, SB, 10 RBI.
Winners are selected by the NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee, which has a representative for each of the 10 NCAA regions.
2025 Wilson/NFCA Division III National Pitcher of the Week
March 11 — Sarah DeStefano, Moravian, Jr., RHP, Ringoes, N.J.
March 4 — Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon, Sr., RHP, New Kent, Va.
2025 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Player of the Week
March 11 — Candace Slaw, Christopher Newport, So., OF, Rappahannock, Va.
March 4 — Tristen Maddox, East Texas Baptist, Gr., SS, Mission, Texas
2025 NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee
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