LOUISVILLE, KY – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released its 2023 Tucci/NFCA Division III Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist on Thursday afternoon, naming Buffalo State's Oriana Castello (Pearl River, NY/Nanuet) as one of the 141 student athletes across the nation, and one of just 10 players in Region III, to this distinguished list.
 
The graduate student centerfielder has recorded a career .388 batting average, with 134 hits across three-plus seasons in Orange and Black. Castello has been named to the NFCA All-Region III team in the past two seasons, while also earning a pair of First Team All-SUNYAC honors and being named the SUNYAC Julie Lenhart Player of the Year in 2021.
 
Through 12 games this season, Castello is hitting .382, and leads Buffalo State with four doubles and 10 runs scored, with a perfect 5-for-5 record in stolen base attempts. She also sports a 1.000 fielding percentage in the outfield, with nine putout and a pair of assists.
 
FULL NFCA RELEASE