Four SAC Student-Athletes Selected to NFCA/Schutt Sports Division II National Player of the Year Watch List

Lacie Rinus of Carson-Newman, Erin Boone of Lenoir-Rhyne and Haley Simonds and Natalie Willis of Newberry represent the SAC as part of the fifty student-athletes from across the country that have been named to the “Watch List” for the NFCA/Schutt Sports Division II National Player of the Year award.

February 9, 2018

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Four South Atlantic Conference softball student-athletes have been selected to the "Watch List" for the NFCA/Schutt Sports Division II National Player of the Year award. Lacie Rinus of Carson-Newman, Erin Boone of Lenoir-Rhyne and Haley Simonds and Natalie Willis of Newberry represent the SAC as part of the fifty student-athletes from across the country that have been named to the "Watch List".

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 Watch List

*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