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