The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is proud to announce the top 25 finalists for the inaugural NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy, which will be presented prior to the start of the 2014 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

With the Association always searching for innovative ways to promote the sport of softball, the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created from an idea to honor outstanding athletic achievement among freshmen softball student-athletes throughout Division I.

Each of this year’s 25 finalists hails from a different university while the group represents 11 Division I leagues across the nation. Both the Southeastern Conference and the Pac-12 Conference picked up the most overall selections with six each, while the Big West Conference garnered three inclusions and the Big Ten Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference tied with two each. The American Athletic Conference, Big 12 Conference, Sun Belt Conference, Big South Conference, Atlantic Sun Conference and Conference USA all reaped one nod.

On Thurs., May 8, the list will be trimmed down to the top 10 finalists, while the top 3 finalists will be selected and released on Thurs., May 22. The inaugural NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony on May 27 prior to the opening of the annual Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

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

• Ali Aguilar – SS/2B – Washington
• Annie Aldrete – DP/C – Tennessee
• Maryssa Becker – P/1B – Louisville
• Megan Betsa – P – Michigan
• Nickie Blue – P – South Carolina
• Jessica Burroughs – P – Florida State
• Kristen Clark – OF – UCSB
• Kasey Cooper – 3B – Auburn
• Baylee Corbello – P/UTL – LSU
• Tiarra Davis – P/UTL – Texas
• Tori Finucane – P – Missouri
• Hannah Flippen – 2B – Utah
• Taylor Glover – CF/1B – Cal State Northridge
• Chelsea Gonzales – 2B/DP – Arizona State
• Sara Groenewegen – P/IF – Minnesota
• Haley Hayden – OF – Louisiana-Lafayette
• Sierra Hyland – P/DP – Cal Poly
• Milly Martinet – RF – Campbell
• Katiyana Mauga – RF – Arizona
• Jill Roye – 1B/DP – Tulsa
• Caroline Seitz – 3B – Mississippi State
• Lexi Shubert – P – USC Upstate
• Kylie Sorenson – SS/3B/P – Stanford
• Delaney Spaulding – SS – UCLA
• Karley Wester – OF – Notre Dame