LOUISVILLE, Ky.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Kiran Sanford and UW-Platteville’s Melissa Dietz have been named to the 2026 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division III All-America Team. Dietz was a first team selection, while Sanford claimed third team honors. Sanford was recognized as the NCAA Division III Freshman of the Year earlier this week.
Dietz claimed first team status for the second straight year and added third team recognition in 2023. She is the second player in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) history to earn three All-America awards, joining UW-Eau Claire’s Amanda Fischer (2013-15). Dietz led the WIAC with a .532 batting average, .910 slugging percentage, .603 on-base percentage, 1.513 OPS and nine home runs, while ranking second with 59 hits, third with 39 RBI, and tied for fourth with 13 doubles. Her .532 batting average (59-for-111) is the top mark in a single season in conference archives. Dietz played in and started 35 games for the Pioneers and recorded at least one hit in 30 contests, including 20 multi-hit games.
Sanford is the first player from Region VIII to be named Freshman of the Year since the award debuted in 2016. She led the conference with 139.0 innings pitched, 168 strikeouts and 16 wins, while ranking second with a 1.41 earned run average and fourth with a .215 opponent batting average. Sanford allowed three earned runs or fewer during each of her 29 outings and recorded four 10-plus strikeout performances, including a season-high 18 strikeouts — the second most in WIAC history — against St. Norbert College (Wis.) on March 7.
This content is sourced from
WIAC
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
UW-Oshkosh names Steve Schweer its 16th head men’s basketball coach, following his record-setting run leading Illinois College’s program from 2019-26.
