Shippensburg University junior pitcher Alicia Ball and sophomore shortstop Caitlyn Martell were named Thursday afternoon to the 2024 Tucci/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist.
 
Ball, the reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Pitcher of the Week, was an All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team pick as a first-year player in 2022. So far in 2024, Ball is 9-1 and ranks third in the conference in ERA (1.35) and sixth in strikeouts (78).
 
Martell, the 2023 PSAC Eastern Division Freshman of the Year, 2023 PSAC Tournament MVP and an All-PSAC Eastern Division First Teamer, is batting .373 with nine extra-base hits and 16 RBIs. She has struck out just five times in 75 at-bats. Martell ranks fourth in the PSAC with 25 runs scored and is tied for sixth in the PSAC with five home runs.
 
The list is broken down into the eight NCAA Regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West) with up to 15 student-athletes represented in each region. The list is compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athlete's head coach must be a member.
 
Voted on by the NFCA's Division II All-American Committee, the 2024 Tucci/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year Award 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.