Official NFCA Release

TACOMA, Wash. — The National Fastpitch Coaches Association released its NCAA Division III All-American Team on Wednesday with Pacific Lutheran University slugger Paola Garcia earning Second team accolades. 

The Downey, California native adds Second Team All-American status to a laundry list of honors this season, including Northwest Conference Player of the Year, First Team All-NWC, and First Team NFCA All-Region X. The senior outfielder was a three-time NWC Hitter of the Week and was tabbed the NFCA Player of the Week on March 31.

The Californian etched her name in the record books in 2026, setting school records for RBIs (64), hits (73), and total bases (126). Those records shattered previous marks that had stood since 2004, 1990, and 2022, respectively. 
 
Garcia started all 47 games this season for PLU, leading the team in batting average (.445), slugging percentage (.768), runs scored (46), home runs (13), along with the three stat categories she established new school single season records in (RBIs, hits, and total bases).

The outfielder is the first Lute to secure NFCA All-American honors since Kennedy Kila was Third Team in 2023, and is the highest a Lute has been an NFCA All-American since Stacey Hagensen (2nd Team) and Kaaren Hatlen (1st Team) in 2012. 

Garcia helped the Lutes (35-12, 24-4 NWC) win their first NWC regular season title since 2003 this spring and punch a ticket to the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time since winning the national title in 2012.