LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One-hundred-nineteen student-athletes from across the country were named to the 2025 NFCA Division III Pitcher and Player of the Year watchlist on Thursday afternoon.
The list is separated into the 10 NCAA regions. The list is compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee with one head coach representing each of the 10 NCAA regions.
Click HERE to view watchlist.
Headlining the list are 21 returning NFCA All-Americans, nine from the first team, eight from the second team, and four from the third. In all, 85 different schools are represented on the list.
Voted on by the NFCA’s Division III All-American Committee, the 2025 NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on June 6 following the conclusion of the NCAA Division III Finals. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season awards and do not have to be on this list to be considered.
The NFCA Player of the Year award was created in 2016 to honor outstanding softball achievement in NCAA Division III. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include separate Player and Pitcher of the Year honors.
The awards are voted on by the members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee with one head coach representing each of the 10 NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athlete’s head coach must be a member.
NFCA Player & Pitcher of the Year recipients
2024 — Tristen Maddox, East Texas Baptist (player) & Tayah Kelley, Linfield (pitcher)
2023 — Lindsey Windsor, Salisbury (player) & Kayla Simacek, Bethel (pitcher)
2022 — Kaitlyn Hasty, Christopher Newport (player) & Alexis Michon, Eastern Connecticut State (pitcher)
2021 — Jessica Goldyn, Virginia Wesleyan (player) & Hanna Hull, Virginia Wesleyan (pitcher)
2020 — no awards presented due to COVID-19
2019 — Mackenzie Chitwood, Lynchburg (player) & Ally Wiegand, Illinois Wesleyan (pitcher)
2018 — Hanna Hull, pitcher, Virginia Wesleyan
2017 — Hanna Hull, pitcher, Virginia Wesleyan
2016 — Kelsey Batten, pitcher, UT Tyler
The award was not presented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded TUCCI/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining over 7,000 coaches today!
