LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Denison’s Annabelle Calderon and Christopher Newport’s Kate Alger claimed the latest Division III Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors of the 2024 season on Tuesday.
Calderon, a junior catcher from Perris, Calif., hit .455 (5-for-11) with four runs scored, a double, three home runs and six runs batted in over three contests, as Denison opened its season with four games at the William Peace Triangle Classic in North Carolina. Calderon slugged 1.364 and played perfect defense, recording 17 putouts behind the plate.
Alger, a junior right-hander from Staunton, Va., earned her first national honor since scoring the top pitcher nod to open her freshman season in 2022. An NFCA All-Region selection for the Captains a year ago, she pitched a five-inning no-hitter against Marymount on Sunday and tossed a one-hit shutout of Elmira on Friday. For the week, she totaled 19 strikeouts and walked just two over 11 innings in the circle.
Other Top Performances
Gretchen Barstad, York (Pa.) - .692 AVG, 1.077 SLG, 2B, 2 3B, 5 RBI, 0 K; Hannah Benavides, East Texas Baptist – 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K; Kiera Boucher, Carnegie Mellon - .500 AVG, 3 SB, 1.000 FLD; Carly Dole, Calvin - hit in eight of 10 games on spring break trip, batted .424, 15 R, 14 H, 5 3B, 11 RBI; Ava Fouts, Berry – 2-0, 9 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 9 K; Anna Jackson, Berry - .500 AVG, 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI; Avery Katz, Rhode Island College - .727 AVG (8-for-11), 8 R, 2B, 2 3B, 6 RBI, 6 SB; Tristen Maddox, East Texas Baptist - .455 AVG (5-for-11), 5 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4-4 SB 0 K; Kelsey O’Brien, SUNY New Paltz - .500 AVG, 6 , 2 2B, 3B, 2 RBI; Kayla Simacek, Bethel – 3-0, 0.64 ERA, 22 IP, 0 BB, 32 K; Amanda Smith, Carnegie Mellon – 1-0, 7 IP, 1 CG, 1 BB, 6 K; Brooke Surbaugh, Denison - .417 AVG (5-for-12) 2 R, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, plus 2 CG, 13 IP, 8 K; Emma Wade, York (Pa.) - .500 AVG, 3 2B, HR, 12 RBI, .929 SLG, 0 K; Sarah Watts, Lynchburg – perfect 6-for-6 (3-for-3 each game) in sweep of Pacific Lutheran, including two homers and walk-off single in nightcap.
Winners are selected by the NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee, which has a representative for each of the 10 NCAA regions.
2024 Wilson/NFCA Division III National Pitcher of the Week
March 12 — Kate Alger, Christopher Newport, Jr., RHP, Staunton, Va.
March 5 — Tayah Kelley, Linfield, Sr., RHP, Myrtle Creek, Ore.
2024 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Player of the Week
March 12 — Annabelle Calderon, Denison, Jr., C, Perris, Calif.
March 5 — Haylie Stum, East Texas Baptist, Fr., DP/OF, Cypress, Texas
2024 NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee
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