Linfield College’s Emilee Lepp is the recipient of the 2011 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year for NCAA Division III, as announced Friday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Diamond Sports.

Ten student-athletes representing all levels of collegiate softball plus high schools were selected for the lofty honor. The Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award is presented annually to the top catcher from an NFCA member institution in each of the following divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, NWAACC and high school.

Lepp helped propel Linfield to the Division III national championship for the second time in five seasons. The junior from Colville, Wash., turned in the 11th highest batting average in Division III at .497, while also leading the nation in both home runs and home runs per game with 29 and .054, respectively. Defensively, Lepp allowed just one error in 303 chances while only allowing four passed balls.

She was a first team all-Northwest Conference, all-West Region and NFCA All-America selection and was a finalist for the Honda Award, given annually to the top student-athlete in Division III across the full spectrum of sports.

A committee comprised of head coaches in each of the 10 divisions determines the winner of their respective award.

The other Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year Award recipients are:

NCAA Division I
Kaylyn Castillio, Arizona State University

NCAA Division II
Christine Roser, Rollins College

NAIA
Amy Madden, Southern Nazarene University

NJCAA Division I
Veronika Fukunishi, Miami Dade College

NJCAA Division II
Jena Malmen, Kirkwood Community College

NJCAA Division III
Andrea Schoephoerster, Anoka Ramsey Community College

Cal JC
Adriana Perez, Antelope Valley College

NWAACC
Cassi Ellis, Wenatchee Valley College

High School
Sarah Mooney, North Mecklenburg High School (N.C.)