Official NFCA Release

TACOMA, Wash. — The National Fastpitch Coaches Association released its NCAA Division III Pitcher and Player of the Year watchlist on Thursday with Pacific Lutheran University student-athletes Maiya Anderson and Paola Garcia both making the cut.

Anderson and Garcia are among the 118 student-athletes named to the watchlist, representing all 10 NCAA Regions. Of the 16 student-athletes from Region X, five hail from the Northwest Conference. Joining Anderson and Garcia is Linfield University's Ashlyn Aven, Tyler McNeely, and Meara Sain.

A sophomore from Hawthorne, California, Maiya Anderson makes the list as a pitcher. The Californian has made 10 appearances inside the circle this year with seven starts and five complete games. Anderson boasts a 5-1 record with a 1.81 earned run average, striking out 42 across 46 1/3 innings of work. Anderson has proven to be a tough pitcher to hit against with opposing batters hitting just .175 against her this season.

A senior from Downey, California, Paola Garcia makes the cut as an outfielder. Garcia leads the Lutes at the plate with a .483 batting average with 36 RBIs, 26 runs scored, 14 extra base hits, and seven home runs. Garcia was on fire last week at the plate and earlier this week was named the NFCA National Player of the Week. 

The Lutes currently sit in first place in the NWC standings, boasting an 18-6 overall record and a 10-2 mark in conference play. PLU heads to Oregon this weekend, playing a four-game series against George Fox University that begins tomorrow at noon.