Top 25 College Freshmen of the Year Finalists (4/17)

Top 25 College Freshmen of the Year Finalists (4/17)

Apr 17, 2015 by Brentt Eads
Top 25 College Freshmen of the Year Finalists (4/17)

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Thursday the Top 25 finalists for the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award, which will be presented prior to the start of the 2015 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Lele Ocasio has been a great addition to the Florida pitching staff.
Lele Ocasio has been a great addition to the Florida pitching staff.

This year’s 25 finalists hail from 23 different universities, while the group represents 12 Division I leagues across the nation, ranging coast-to-coast, from New York to California. Alabama and LSU out of the Southeastern Conference each boast two finalists.

The SEC led the way with eight overall selections. The Pac-12 and the Southland Conference each had three representatives, while the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Sun Belt garnered two honorees apiece. The BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big West, Colonial Athletic Association and Ohio Valley all had one selection.

On Thurs., May 7, the list will be trimmed down to the top 10 finalists, while the top 3 finalists will be selected and released on Thurs., May 21.

Last year, Annie Aldrete of the University of Tennessee and Kasey Cooper of Auburn University were selected as co-winners of the inaugural award.

In its second year, the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony on May 26 prior to the opening of the annual Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

Finally, 11 of the players were listed in the Full Count Softball 2014 Hot 100 including top-ranked Jenna Lilley with two others being in the top 10 and a total of five from the top 20.

The player’s Hot 100 ranking is listed in red. Note that some players are redshirt freshmen or transfers and were 2013 graduates.


Megan Good has already been honored as the National Player of the Week.
Megan Good of James Madison has already been honored as the National Player of the Week.

NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year – Top 25 Finalists

  • Sydney Booker – SS/3B – Southeastern Louisiana
  • Daniella Chavez – DP – Kansas
  • Zoe Conley – RHP – CSUN
  • Baylee Douglass – RHP – SIUE
  • Ivie Drake – C – Georgia State (52)
  • Cortni Emanuel – OF/IF – Georgia
  • Megan Good – RHP/IF – James Madison
  • Meghan Gregg – SS – Tennessee (5)
  • Peyton Hedrick – SS – Abilene Christian
  • Carley Hoover – RHP – LSU
  • Jazmyn Jackson – CF – California (8)
  • Jenna Lilley – 3B – Oregon (1)
  • Aleshia Ocasio – RHP/UT – Florida
  • Ariel Ortiz – SS – Texas State (44)
  • Alexis Osorio – RHP – Alabama (19)
  • Paige Parker – LHP – Oklahoma (36)
  • Danielle Parlich – IF – Minnesota
  • Erika Piancastelli – C – McNeese State
  • Krystal Puga – 1B – St. John’s
  • Demi Turner – 2B – Alabama (82)
  • Taylor Van Zee – LF/3B – Washington (14)
  • Tori Vidales – 3B – Texas A&M (74)
  • Allie Walljasper – RHP – LSU (21)
  • Jessica Warren – 3B – Florida State
  • Taylor Wike – 2B – North Carolina