LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lock Haven softball standout sophomore Blaire Balestrini was revealed as part of the 2026 NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist, the organization announced on Wednesday.

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 an active NFCA member.

Balestrini is one of two student-athletes from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) to be named to the list.

The sophomore is off to a scorching start this season and is leading the team in batting average (.393) and hits (33) and is second in home runs (4) and RBIs (16). Balestrini, who ranks seventh in the conference in hits to date, is currently riding a 12-game hitting streak.

In 2025, Balestrini was named a finalist for the 2025 NCAA DII Freshman of the Year Award after being named the PSAC East Freshman of the Year and First Team NFCA Atlantic Region Shortstop.

As a freshman, Balestrini ranked tied for third in the PSAC in home runs (11), second in slugging percentage (.746), fourth in total bases (103), 10th in hits (55) and ninth in batting average (.399).

She was also tied for the team lead in doubles (7), while leading the team in triples (4), runs (30), and at-bats (138). Balestrini’s 11 home runs were the most by a Bald Eagle slugger since 2017.

Voted on by the NFCA’s Division II All-American Committee, the 2025 NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on May 30 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.

The Player of the Year award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievements among softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year.