LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For her efforts this season, Averett softball junior infielder Mackenzie Newcomb was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) Division III Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist, announced on Thursday. 

Already named an ODAC offensive player of the week, Newcomb ranks 17th conference-wide in average at a .416 clip, eighth in OPS at 1.139, first in doubles with 12, and third in RBIs with 33. Nationally, the aforementioned stats carry over well. Newcomb's doubles count is fifth in all of Division III, and her RBIs are 12th. 

The watchlist is separated into the 10 NCAA regions and is compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee with one head coach representing each of the 10 NCAA regions.

Voted on by the NFCA's Division III All-America Committee, the 2026 NFCA Player and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on May 27 prior to the start of the NCAA Division III World Series. 

Student-athletes do not have to be on this watchlist to be considered for end-of-season awards, which will be voted on by the members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee. To be eligible to be selected for NFCA Player and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year honors, a student-athlete's head coach must be a member.

The NFCA Player of the Year award was created in 2016 to honor outstanding softball achievement in NCAA Division III. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include separate Player and Pitcher of the Year honors.

The rest of the watchlist can be viewed here.