INDIANAPOLIS – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released their Tucci/NFCA Division II National Players and Pitchers of the Year watchlist on Thursday, as six Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) student-athletes from four different institutions were named to the Midwest Region list.
Both Indianapolis and Lewis had a pair of players appear on the list, leading GLVC squads in representation. Returning All-American pitcher, Kenzee Smith, and infielder Emily O'Connor represent UIndy, while Lewis sophomores Anna Frafjord (infielder) and Delaney Garden (pitcher) made the list. McKendree infielder, Lauren Harris, a 2024 All-American and the GLVC Freshman and Player of the Year was named to the watchlist, while Truman State outfielder
Emily Wood rounded out the GLVC contingent.
Wood is hitting .427 in 28 games played thus far, good for third in the GLVC and leads the Bulldogs with six home runs, 23 runs batted in and has been successful on 14 of 17 stolen base attempts.
The list is broken down into the eight NCAA Regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West) with up to 15 student-athletes represented in each region. The list is compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athlete's head coach must be a member.
Voted on by the NFCA's Division II All-American Committee, the 2024 Tucci/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on May 27 following the conclusion of the NCAA Division II National Championships. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season award and do not have to be on this list to be considered.
The Player of the Year 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.
NFCA Division II Watch List
