GORHAM, Maine – Junior Abby Miner (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' softball team is one of 98 student-athletes from across the country to be named to the 2024 Tucci/National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) Division III Pitcher and Player of the Year watch list.
 
Separated into 10 regions, Miner is one of 14 softball student-athletes on the list from Region II, and one of five student-athletes from Little East Conference programs highlighted among some of the very best softball players in Division III. In all, 65 different schools are represented on the list.
 
The Tucci/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. Voted on by the NFCA's Division III All-American Committee, the 2024 Tucci/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on June 7 following the conclusion of the NCAA Division III Finals. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season awards and do not have to be on this list to be considered.

Helping Southern Maine to an outstanding 11-3 start to its 2024 campaign, Miner has been a key component to the Huskies' offensive fire power.  Hitting a team-leading .543 (25-for-46), Miner has a team-best 25 hits, including 13 for extra bases.  With eight doubles and five home runs in 14 games, Miner has an outstanding 1.043 slugging percentage and a .611 on-base percentage.  Hitting from the number two spot in the lineup, Miner is tied for the team-lead in RBI. 

Miner leads the Little East Conference in total bases (106), slugging percentage, on-base percentage, home runs, and doubles per game.  Across NCAA Division III, Miner is in the top 25 of doubles per game (0.58), home runs, home runs per game, and slugging percentage.
Sweeping its last two opponents in four games by a combined score of 42-10, Southern Maine returns to action this Sunday at Little East Conference opponent Eastern Connecticut State University (12 & 2 pm).