Lutz repeats as NFCA Player of the Year
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the student-athletes chosen for this season's NFCA Cal JC major awards on Thursday afternoon.
Palomar College's Breanna Lutz repeated as NFCA Player of the Year and El Camino College's Lexi Ramirez scored this season's NFCA Pitcher of the Year honors. Mt. San Antonio College's Morgan Kneubuhler earned Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year distinction for the second consecutive season, while Tyla Arbuckle from West Valley College scored New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe honors as Cal JC's top base stealer.
Sophomore third baseman Lutz, the NFCA Player of the Year and an NFCA Cal JC All-American for the second straight season, is actually having a better year for the (40-3) Comets than the stellar one she had in 2024. Her 3C2A-leading batting average of .570 is 81 points higher, and her .642 on-base percentage (+153 points) and 1.016 slugging percentage (+186 points) are up significantly as well. Lutz has more hits (73), triples (six), homers (nine) and RBI (56) this season despite having 13 less at-bats heading into today's 3C2A state championship tournament game against San Mateo at West Valley College. She also hasn't struck out once, after doing so just six times last season. In her entire career, Lutz had a slash line of .526/.601/.900, 114 RBI, 17 home runs, 44 doubles and seven tripels in 291 at bats. She walked a total of 48 times and struck out eight times.
Right-hander Ramirez leads the (37-7) Warriors into today's 3C2A state championship tournament game versus host West Valley College with a 28-7 record, 1.20 ERA and 3C2A-best 11 shutouts. The sophomore has fanned 198 batters and held opponents to a .171 average over 210 innings in the circle. She has 26 complete games and the fifth-most starts (32) of any pitcher this season. Ramirez, who has also hit .328 with 31 runs, four doubles, three triples, four homers and 37 RBI, was named an NFCA Cal JC South Region All-American last week.
Mt. San Antonio sophomore Kneubuhler has starred behind the dish and at the plate again this season for the (26-15) Mounties. She made just one error in 147 chances at catcher (136 putouts, 10 assists) and threw out five of 12 runners attempting to steal, while also hitting .394 with 24 runs, 39 hits, seven doubles, a triple, seven homers, 33 RBI and a 1.139 OPS. She was voted the South Region NFCA Cal JC All-America catcher for a second straight year.
Speedy freshman Arbuckle has been the top baserunner in the 3C2A this season, swiping 47 bases in 49 attempts for the (41-3) Vikings, who play fellow major award winner Ramirez and El Camino later today. The center fielder has collected the most runs (64), at-bats (153) and plate appearances (170) of anyone in 3C2A from West Valley's leadoff spot, helping solidify her selection for the NFCA Cal JC North All-America team last week.
San Jose City College's Evangelina Chavarria and Mt. San Antonio's Kayden Connaty were previously announced as the 2025 Joan Joyce Utility/Pitcher winners for the North and South regions, respectively. That position on all collegiate All-America teams honors the late NFCA Hall of Famer.
NFCA Cal JC All-America athletes must be nominated by their NFCA-member head coaches and are voted for by the coaches in their respective region. All major awards are selected and voted on by the full Cal JC head coaching membership.
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