LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Thirty student-athletes have been selected as finalists for the 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Year awards. The winners will be announced following the conclusion of the 2021 season.

The award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievements among softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach. With the cancellation of last year’s season due to COVID-19 and a higher percentage of eligible candidates, an additional five players have been added to the traditional top 25.

The list of student-athletes is represented by 25 different programs and 15 conferences. The group consists of 11 graduate students or seniors, eight juniors, eight sophomores and three freshmen.

University of North Georgia (Peach Belt Conference), University of Texas at Tyler (Lone Star Conference), Rollins College (Sunshine State Conference), Valdosta State University (Gulf South Conference) and Western Washington University (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) each had two recipients. 

The Peach Belt and Lone Star led the way with four selections, while the Gulf South and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference each garnered three honorees. Taking home two plaudits apiece were the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, GNAC, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Sunshine State Conference.

Collecting one honor each was the California Collegiate Athletic Association, Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, Great American Conference, Great Lakes Valley Conference, Northeast-10 Conference, and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

The Top 10 finalists, consisting of players and pitchers, will be announced on May 18 with the 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Year revealed on June 3.

Past Winners
2020 – No awards due to COVID-19
2019 (Player) – Julia Seader, LIU Post
2019 (Pitcher) – Allison Lipovsky, Grand Valley State

Player of the Year
2018 – Kylee Smith, North Georgia
2017 – Coley Ries, Minnesota State
2016 – Lindsay Butler, Wayne State University
2015 – Courtney Poole, North Georgia

2021 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II Player & Pitcher of the Year Top 30

Tatum Brummitt, Senior, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Bailey Byers, Senior, Malone University

Hannah Rose Corbin, Sophomore, Columbus State University

Kendall Cornick, Senior, Augustana University

Kali Crandall, Sophomore, Oklahoma Christian University

Tatum Dow, Junior, Western Washington University

Payton Foster, Sophomore, University of Texas at Tyler

Sydni Hawkins, Junior, Missouri Western State University

Alyssa Herrera, Freshman, Georgian Court University

Teala Howard, Junior, University of West Florida

Anna Kasner, Senior, Western Washington University

Hannah Marsteller, Sophomore, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shanna McBroom, Graduate, West Texas A&M University

Andrea Morales, Senior, Rogers State University

MaKray   Odom, Graduate, Trevecca Nazarene University

Nicole Pennington, Junior, Valdosta State University

Ashley Perez, Junior, University of Texas at Tyler

Morgan Perry, Senior, Saint Anselm College

Nicole Purtell, Junior, Shepherd University

Samantha Richards, Sophomore, Valdosta State University

Mahina Sauer, Senior, Southern Nazarene University

Ali Shenefield, Freshman, Rollins College

Margaret Simmons, Junior, University of North Georgia

Ellie Smith, Sophomore, Colorado Mesa University

Kenzee Smith, Freshman, University of Indianapolis

Kylee Smith, Senior, University of North Georgia

Izzy Starr, Sophomore, Humboldt State University

Mackenzie Ward, Junior, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Faith Willenbrock, Senior, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Ashley Worrell, Sophomore, Rollins College