LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Paige Lathrop and Randolph-Macon’s Gracie Ellis claimed the latest Division III Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors of the 2025 season on Tuesday.
Junior outfielder Lathrop batted .727 (16-for-22) with 12 runs, a double, two triples, seven runs batted in and four steals for the (14-2) Blugolds at the Space Coast Games. She had two three-hit performances and two two-hit contests.
Meanwhile, senior right-hander Ellis scored her second national honor in the last four weeks. The New Kent, Va., product went 2-0 over three appearances with a save, 0.00 ERA, five hits, two walks and 20 strikeouts for the (18-2) No. 14 Yellow Jackets. She tossed an eight-inning four-hitter with eight strikeouts against then-No. 23 Tufts and had a one-hit shutout (12 strikeouts) versus Ferrum.
Other Top Performances
Angelina Alderete, La Verne – .429 AVG, 4 R, 6 H, 4 RBI; Kenzie Bessette, Plymouth State – .606 AVG, 15 R, 20 H, 5 2B, 7 RBI, 10 SB; Isabel Bettencourt, Bates – .656 AVG 9 R, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 18 RBI; Maria Brooks, WashU – 2 APP, 0.00 ERA, 14 IP, 5 K vs. then-No. 8 Case Western Reserve; Anna Caime, Belhaven – .615 AVG, 8 R, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI; Kiara Castera, DeSales – .667 AVG, 4 R, 5 RBI; Reagan Diamond, Carnegie Mellon – .693 AVG, 2B, 4 RBI, .846 SLG; Sydney Fleming, Williams – .667 AVG, 2.167 SLG, 3 HR, 7 RBI; Macy Funderburk, Belhaven – 10 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 23 K (including career-high 14 versus Covenant); Audrey Gauthier, Framingham State – 4-0, SV, 27.1 IP, 8 ER, 2.05 ERA, 42 K; Hannah Gore, Berry – 12 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 18 K, one-hit shutout vs. Hendrix; Rebecca Gottleib, Hood – 2-0, including four-hit shutout (0 BB, 8 K) versus Penn State-Mont Alto, plus .667 AVG, 5 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB; Gracie Grimes, Anderson – .700 AVG, 1.700 SLG, 5 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI; Avery Holland, East Texas Baptist – 7 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 5 K, second shutout in last three outings; Carrie Jacoby, Salisbury – .727 AVG, 2B, 3B, 5 RBI; Kate McGrath, Plymouth State – 4-1, 1.56 ERA, 27 IP, 13 K; Alexis Michon, Trine – 2-0, SV, perfect game versus Ohio Northern; Izabella Morales, East Texas Baptist – .715 AVG, 2 RBI, 4 SB; Jacy Ramos, Randolph-Macon – .667 AVG, .555 AVG, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2B, 3B; Delaney Rankin, Bates – 5-0, 0.64 ERA, 33 IP, 3 ER, 9 BB, 51 K, .059 OPP BA; Katie Rygiel, Ramapo – .500 AVG, 3 2B, 2 SB, HR, 8 RBI; Taylor Sanborn, Calvin – .583 AVG, 7 H, 2 2B, HR, 8 RBI; Jacie Schultz, Wisconsin-Eau Claire – 3-0, 2 CG, 1.19 ERA, 17.2 IP, SV,6 K; Emma Shepherd, Centenary (La.) – 1-0, 1.00 ERA, 7 IP, 14 K; Kassy Stefanski, Ramapo – 2-0, 1.29 ERA, SHO, 21.2 IP, 5 BB, 17 K; Kennedy Votava, Piedmont – .889 AVG (8-of-9), 2B, 4 BB, 3 SB.
Winners are selected by the NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee, which has a representative for each of the 10 NCAA regions.
2025 Wilson/NFCA Division III National Pitcher of the Week
March 25 — Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon, Sr., RHP, New Kent, Va.
March 18 — Darian Kanno, Hiram, Sr., RHP, Mililani, Hawaii
March 11 — Sarah DeStefano, Moravian, Jr., RHP, Ringoes, N.J.
March 4 — Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon, Sr., RHP, New Kent, Va.
2025 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Player of the Week
March 25 — Paige Lathrop, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Jr., OF, South Milwaukee, Wis.
March 18 — Brooke Greaver, Christopher Newport, Gr., 3B, Abingdon, Md.
March 11 — Candace Slaw, Christopher Newport, So., OF, Rappahannock, Va.
March 4 — Tristen Maddox, East Texas Baptist, Gr., SS, Mission, Texas
2025 NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!