Calderon Receives 2024 Diamond Sports/NFCA Division III Catcher of the Year Award

GRANVILLE, Ohio (May 29, 2024) – Denison University’s junior softball player, Annabelle Calderon, made history by being named the 2024 Diamond Sports/NFCA Division III Catcher of the Year. The announcement was made during the NCAA Division III Championship banquet in Marshall, Texas, where Calderon was honored as a first-team All-American.

Calderon’s impressive season included being named to the first-team All-Region VII for the second consecutive year and receiving the 2024 North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year award. She showcased her skills both defensively and offensively, boasting a .982 fielding average and leading the team in batting with a .495 average, 12 home runs, and 43 RBIs.

One of Calderon’s standout moments came on May 1 when she hit a two-run home run to become Denison’s single-season home run leader. By the end of the season, she was ranked nationally in several categories, including slugging percentage, batting average, and home runs per game.

The Big Red finished the season with a 25-12 record and earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAC Softball Tournament. The team’s success was also recognized off the field, as Denison’s coaching staff, led by head coach Tiffany Ozbun, received the NCAC Coaching Staff of the Year award.

Calderon’s outstanding performance and leadership on and off the field have solidified her place in Denison Softball history, making her the first player to be named a first-team All-American and setting the stage for an exciting senior season ahead.