LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has revealed the list of student-athletes to watch as potential wins of the 2023 Tucci/NFCA Division III Player and Pitcher of the Year award with four members of nationally-ranked Trine University softball making an appearance.

Junior Alexis Michon, in her first season with the Thunder, returns to the list after being named the national pitcher of the year last season while playing for Eastern Connecticut State University. In the first half of the season she has established herself as the team's top starter, leading the way with just over 40 innings pitched. She is currently averaging a team high 9.64 strikeouts per seven innings and has the most strikeouts with 56.

Also a familiar face on the watchlist is graduate student Cassie Woods, having earned NFCA All-American status last season while a member of the ECSU. This season she has inserted herself into left field for the Thunder and into the second spot in the batting order. She currently sits third among starters with a .392 batting average and a .526 on-base percentage while sitting in a tie for fourth with a .510 slugging percentage.

Fresh off her first player of the week honors, both in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and nationally, Debbie Hill debuts on the watchlist. The freshman has quickly become a linchpin for the team both in the batters' box and the circle. She currently sits top-ten nationally in both home runs per game (0.37), on-base percentage (.606) and slugging percentage (1.000). While pitching she sits third on the team with 32 innings of work while posting second best tallies in strikeouts (39), earned run average (1.53) and strikeouts per seven innings (8.53).

The final member of the team that the NFCA is keeping an eye on is freshman Karley Trine. Having also made an immediate contribution, she has solidified a spot in right field and in the heart of the batting order. She currently sits top-50 in home runs (5), home runs per game (0.29) and slugging percentage (.837).

The watchlist is compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee, who will also vote to choose the Player and Pitcher of the Year honorees at the conclusion of the season. The 2023 Tucci/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year will be announced on Friday, June 9 and all student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season award, they do not have to be on this list to be considered by the committee.