LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Transylvania Softball's 2023 All-American Senior outfielder Stella Wulker has been named on the 2024 Tucci/NFCA Division III Player and Pitcher watch list. Wulker is one of ninety-eight student athletes across the country named to the watchlist, released last Thursday.

Wulker is one of twenty-six NFCA All-Americans named to the watchlist. In 2023, she was named Second Team All-American by the NFCA after hitting .459 with 9 home runs and 49 RBI's. She led the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in batting average, OPS, hits, doubles, and triples.

The defending HCAC Player of the Year has continued her dominance on the field in 2024. She is batting .458 with 5 home runs and 8 doubles. She has a hit in 18 of 19 games this season. She ranks 3rd in the HCAC in batting average, 5th in doubles, and 1st in RBI's, OPS, home runs, and total bags.

Wulker and the Pioneers reached their highest NFCA ranking in program history earlier this season at 9th. The Pioneers have remained in the top 25 all season long, and have won their last 6 games, including their conference openers this past weekend at Earlham and Anderson. Transylvania has outscored their last 6 opponents 45-3.

Voted on by the NFCA's Division III All-American Committee, the 2024 Tucci/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on June 7 following the conclusion of the NCAA Division III Finals. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season awards and do not have to be on this list to be considered.
The Tucci/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 awards are voted on by the members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee with one head coach representing each of the 10 NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athlete's head coach must be a member.


Tucci/NFCA Player & Pitcher of the Year recipients
2023 — Lindsey Windsor, Salisbury (player) & Kayla Simacek, Bethel (pitcher)
2022 — Kaitlyn Hasty, Christopher Newport (player) & Alexis Michon, Eastern Conn. St. (pitcher)
2021 — Jessica Goldyn, Virginia Wesleyan (player) & Hanna Hull, Virginia Wesleyan (pitcher)
2020 — no awards presented due to COVID-19
2019 — Mackenzie Chitwood, Lynchburg (player) & Ally Wiegand, Illinois Wesleyan (pitcher)
2018 — Hanna Hull, pitcher, Virginia Wesleyan
2017 — Hanna Hull, pitcher, Virginia Wesleyan
2016 — Kelsey Batten, pitcher, UT Tyler
 
The award was not presented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded TUCCI/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention. Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining over 7,000 coaches today!
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