NACC’s Edwards, McCluskey receive NJCAA top awards
McCluskey named Player of the Year; Edwards tabbed Pitcher of the Year
The best Division I softball team in the National Junior College Athletic Association now officially has the season's top two players.
A day after earning the moniker of NJCAA Division I Softball First-Team All-American, Northeast Alabama Community College freshman Marti McCluskey has been named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association NJCAA Division I Player of the Year while freshman Addie Edwards was named the NFCA NJCAA Division I Pitcher of the Year.
The NFCA released its top awards today, one day after announcing its first and second-team All-Americans.
Both players were key figures in NACC's historic season, helping the Mustangs post a 56-4 record, win the ACCC regular season and tournament championships, win the NJCAA Region 22 title and the 2026 NJCAA Division I Softball national championship.
The national title capped off stellar seasons for both players. McCluskey was among the conference's and nation's top hitters in numerous categories. The Tuscaloosa native batted .429 and had an on-base percentage of .505. She collected 79 hits in 184 at bats, including 22 doubles, two triples and a team-leading 15 home runs. McCluskey also led the ACCC in RBIs (78) and was third in the conference in runs scored (63) while also drawing a team-best 30 walks and stealing eight bases. She was also named All-ACCC and NJCAA All-South Region first-team during the regular season and was an All-NJCAA World Series Team selection after driving in at least one run during NACC's undefeated 5-0 run at the World Series.
"Marti committed to becoming a ballplayer who can better handle physical adjustment and mental fortitude. The sky is the limit for her going forward," said NACC head coach Joe Guthrie.
Meanwhile, Edwards turned in a perfect 34-0 season in the pitching circle. The right-hander from Chatsworth, Georgia led the NJCAA in wins, ERA (1.12) and WHIP (0.79) while tossing 32 complete games and recording three saves and 219 strikeouts in 211 2/3 innings pitched. Edwards went 5-0 in the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series last week and was awarded the tournament's "Best Pitcher" award. She was previously named the Alabama Community College Conference Pitcher of the Year, was the ACCC Pitcher of the Week seven times during the regular season, was the ACCC Tournament MVP and a NJCAA All-South Region first-team selection.
"Addie was a warrior this year," Guthrie said. "The mental is twice what the physical is. She's only going to get a lot better too."