LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eight finalists, one from each of the NCAA’s eight regions, have been selected by the Association’s Division II All-America Committee for the 2025 NFCA Division II Freshman of the Year award. 

Lock Haven University’s Blaire Balestrini (Atlantic), Missouri Southern State University’s Bailey Dillon (Central), Thomas Jefferson University’s Delaney Alix (East), Tiffin University’s Jessica Miller (Midwest), Rollins College’s Brianna Perantoni (South), Colorado Mesa’s Jessalyn Gallegos (South Central), University of North Georgia’s Carleigh Knowles (Southeast) and Sonoma State’s Sophia Newcomb (West) are now in the running for the award, which will be announced on Tuesday, May 20. 

Seven of the eight finalists were voted NFCA First- or Second-Team All-Region. Balestrini, Dillon, Miller, Perantoni and Knowles earned first-team honors, while Alix and Newcomb collected second-team accolades. 

Miller was tabbed the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player and Freshman of the Year with Balestrini (PSAC East), Dillon (MIAA), Alix (CACC), Gallegos (RMAC), Knowles (Peach Belt) and Newcomb (CCAA) named their respective conference’s freshmen of the year.

Six of the finalists – Balestrini, Alix, Dillon, Miller, Perantoni and Newcomb - are representing their institutions for the first time, while it is the third nod for Colorado Mesa and second for North Georgia.

Created in 2015, the award honors the outstanding athletic achievement among freshman softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. To be eligible, student-athletes must come from a NFCA member institution.

Past winners include: 2024 – Sarah Davenport, East Stroudsburg; 2023 - Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman; 2022 - Caleigh Rister, PennWest California; 2021 - Kenzee Smith, Indianapolis; 2019 - Bailey McKittrick, Central Oklahoma; 2018 - Callie Nunes, Concordia; 2017 - Autumn Humes, Harding; 2016 Charlotte Romero, Colorado Christian; 2015 - Janessa Bassett, Dixie State. 

Blaire Balestrini
Lock Haven

Bailey Dillon
Missouri Southern

Delaney Alix
Jefferson

Jessica Miller
Tiffin

Brianna Perantoni
Rollins

Jessalyn Gallegos
Colorado Mesa

Carleigh Knowles
North Georgia

Sophia Newcomb
Sonoma State

The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year Awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and National Convention. 

Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining over 7,000 coaches today!

NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year