LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fifty student-athletes from across the country have been selected to the “Watch List” for the NFCA/Schutt Sports Division II National Player of the Year award.
Headlining the list are 28 returning NFCA All-Americans, eight from the first team, 10 from the second and 10 third teamers.
In all, the group consists of 27 seniors, 11 juniors and 12 sophomores, representing 40 programs from 18 different conferences. Freshmen are not eligible for the “Watch List”, but can be considered for the Player of the Year award once they have competed at the collegiate level.
Ten programs garnered multiple candidates with Colorado Mesa and West Texas A&M boasting three representatives apiece. Angelo State, Central Oklahoma, Newberry College, North Georgia, Southern Arkansas and West Chester earned two nods apiece.
The California Collegiate Athletic Association (Cal St. San Bernardino, Chico State, Humboldt State, Cal State Monterey Bay) have representation from four programs. The Great Lakes Valley, Gulf South, Lone Star, Mountain East, Pacific West, Pennsylvania State Athletic and South Athletic Conferences each have three schools on the list.
The Top 25 finalists for the 2017 NFCA/ Schutt Sports Division II National Player of the Year award will be announced on April 23. A student-athlete does not have to be on watch list to be considered for the Top 25. The top-10 finalists will be announced on May 15 and the winner will be recognized on June 4 following the conclusion of the 2018 season.
Behind the collaboration between the NFCA and the NCAA Division II Head Coaches Committee, and the generosity of Schutt Sports, the award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievement among softball student-athletes throughout Division II.
The previous honorees of the award are Courtney Poole, North Georgia (2015), Lyndsay Butler, Wayne State University (2016) and Coley Ries, Minnesota State (2017).
2018 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II Player of the Year Watchlist
*Denotes returning NFCA All-American
|
Courtney Barnhill |
Outfield |
Sophomore |
Angelo State University |
|
Janessa Bassett* |
Outfield |
Senior |
Dixie State University |
|
Erin Boone* |
Outfield |
Junior |
Lenoir-Rhyne University |
|
Taylor Brandts |
Pitcher |
Senior |
UVa Wise |
|
Jessica Brown |
Catcher |
Senior |
Cal State San Bernardino |
|
Rosa'Lynn Burton* |
Outfield |
Sophomore |
Wilmington University |
|
Jayden Chestnut |
Pitcher |
Junior |
Central Oklahoma |
|
Haleigh Christopher |
Catcher |
Sophomore |
University of Charleston |
|
Angelique Elemen* |
Utility |
Junior |
Fort Lewis College |
|
Sara Ercolani |
Second Base |
Senior |
West Chester University |
|
Julia Garcia* |
Third Base |
Senior |
Cal State Monterey Bay |
|
Haley Gilham* |
Pitcher |
Senior |
Chico State |
|
Brooke Goad |
Outfield |
R-Senior |
Southern Arkansas University |
|
Kilee Halbert |
Pitcher |
Senior |
West Texas A&M University |
|
Ashley Hardin* |
Outfield |
Senior |
West Texas A&M University |
|
Morgan Heard |
Shortstop |
Senior |
Central Oklahoma |
|
Brooke Hodgson* |
Utility |
Senior |
Colorado Mesa University |
|
Kala Holder* |
Infield |
Sophomore |
Pittsburg State University |
|
Hanna Holland |
Outfield |
R-Junior |
Humboldt State University |
|
Amanda Houck* |
Pitcher |
Senior |
West Chester University |
|
Mariah Jameyson* |
Catcher |
Senior |
Texas A&M University-Commerce |
|
Jamie Johnson* |
Third Base |
Senior |
UNC Pembroke |
|
Sara Keeny |
Outfield |
Junior |
Kutztown University |
|
Kacie Kelly* |
Second Base |
Sophomore |
Saint Leo University |
|
Carly Kingery |
Pitcher |
Junior |
University of Missouri-St. Louis |
|
Taylor Kline |
Shortstop |
Senior |
Ohio Dominican University |
|
Jennifer Leonhardt* |
Pitcher |
Sophomore |
University of Southern Indiana |
|
Caitlyn Lloyd |
Outfield |
Sophomore |
California Baptist University |
|
Brandy Marlett* |
Pitcher |
Senior |
Angelo State University |
|
Brenna Martini* |
Third Base |
Senior |
Adelphi University |
|
Jess Meidl* |
Outfield |
Senior |
Minnesota State University |
|
Jessica Mohl |
Shortstop |
Senior |
Valdosta State University |
|
Marisa Monasseri* |
Catcher |
Senior |
Caldwell University |
|
Emily Price* |
Shortstop |
Senior |
California (Pa.) |
|
Christa Reisinger* |
Outfield |
Junior |
Truman State University |
|
Lacie Rinus* |
Pitcher |
Sophomore |
Carson-Newman University |
|
Meredith Rousse |
Second Base |
Senior |
Saginaw Valley State University |
|
Jill Roye* |
Pitcher/First Base |
Senior |
Southern Arkansas University |
|
Rhiannon Sassman |
Shortstop |
Junior |
University of West Florida |
|
Julia Seader |
Catcher |
Junior |
LIU Post |
|
Haley Simonds* |
Utility/Pitcher |
Sophomore |
Newberry College |
|
Allie Smith* |
Infield |
Senior |
West Texas A&M University |
|
Kylee Smith* |
Pitcher |
Sophomore |
University of North Georgia |
|
Sydney Sprague* |
Shortstop |
Senior |
University of North Georgia |
|
McKenzie Surface |
Pitcher |
Junior |
Colorado Mesa University |
|
AnnMarie Torres* |
First Base |
Sophomore |
Colorado Mesa University |
|
Hannah Vet* |
Pitcher |
Senior |
West Virginia Wesleyan College |
|
Kelsey Vining |
Outfield |
Senior |
University of Montevallo |
|
Magnolia West |
Outfield |
Sophomore |
Palm Beach Atlantic University |
|
Natalie Willis |
Second Base |
Junior |
Newberry College |
