LOUISVILLE, KY (April 2, 2026) – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced the selection of 118 student-athletes nationwide to the 2026 NFCA Division III Pitcher and Player of the Year Watchlist on April 2. Among them, UMass Boston Senior third base Lauren Miner (Millbury, MA) earned a spot as one of the top players to watch in NCAA Division III softball, joining twelve other selections from Region II.
Miner has been an offensive lynchpin for Head Coach Natalia Ardagna's Beacons this season. She leads not only the Beacons, but the entire Little East Conference in Home Runs (5), RBIs (28), OPS (1.310), and Slugging Percentage (.803).
Miner also has 15 stolen bases, placing her second in the LEC, and maintains a stellar .443 batting average early this season.
The list 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.
To view the full watchlist, follow the link (HERE).
Voted on by the NFCA's Division III All-American Committee, the 2026 NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on May 27, prior to the start of the NCAA Division III World Series. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-season awards, regardless of whether they are on this list.
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 awards are voted on by members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee, with one head coach representing each of the 10 NCAA regions.
UMass Boston softball returns to action, looking to add to their strong 13-5 start on Tuesday, April 14, with a LEC doubleheader against the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs on the road in North Dartmouth, MA. Game one begins at 2:30 p.m., followed by game two at approximately 4:30 p.m.
To stay up to date on all things UMass Boston Athletics, follow the Beacons on Instagram (@UMassBeacons) and X (@UMassBostonAthletics), and read the latest stories and updates at https://beaconsathletics.com.
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