by LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rogers State softball’s Sara Llamas-Howell has been named to the Tucci/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist, the organization announced on Thursday.
Llamas-Howell is one of 15 players from the Central Region mentioned on the watchlist, including six players from the MIAA. This season the Pawnee, Okla. product is off to a strong start in the circle as she ranks second in the league with a 1.02 ERA in 89.1 innings with a 13-2 record, only allowing opposing hitters a .201 average at the plate. The senior has also logged 92 strikeouts. This is also Llamas-Howell’s second-straight season to be included on this watchlist.
Rogers State is familiar with this award as former Hillcat All-American Andrea Morales earned the 2022 NFCA Pitcher of the Year award after leading RSU to its first Division II National Championship.
Voted on by the NFCA’s Division II All-American Committee, the 2024 Tucci/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on May 27 following the conclusion of the NCAA Division II National Championships. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season award and do not have to be on this list to be considered.
The Player of the Year award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievements among softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year.
