LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Anderson University softball sophomore Kayson Boatner has been named to the 2020 Schutt Sports/NFCA DII National Player & Pitcher of the Year "Watch List" announced Thursday morning.
Boatner earned NFCA All-America Second Team and D2CCA DII All-America Honorable Mention, as well as NFCA and D2CAA DII All-Southeast Region First Team following the 2019 season.
The native of Fortson, Ga., hit a team-high 15 homeruns which was tied for first in the South Atlantic Conference. Boatner finished the season batting .353 while knocking in a team-high 57 RBI. For her efforts, she was named to the All-SAC First Team, SAC All-Tournament team.
Fifty student-athletes from across the country have been selected to the "Watch List" for the 2020 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Year award.
Headlining the list are 27 returning NFCA All-Americans, seven from the first team, along with 10 from the second and third teams, respectively.
In all, the group consists of 25 seniors, 14 juniors and 11 sophomores, representing 38 programs from 19 different conferences. Freshmen are not eligible for the "Watch List", but can be considered for the Player and Pitcher of the Year awards once they have competed at the collegiate level.
Ten programs garnered multiple candidates with University of West Florida and Winona State earning three nods, while Augustana, Cameron University, Chico State, Concordia University Irvine, Grand Valley State University, Tarleton State University and Texas A&M University Kingsville had two selections apiece.
The Lone Star Conference led the way with eight honorees. The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference followed with five selections. The California Collegiate Athletic Association, Great Lakes Valley Conference, Gulf South Conference and South Athletic Conference capturing four plaudits.
The Top 25 finalists for the 2020 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Year awards will be announced on April 23. A student-athlete does not have to be on the watch list to be considered for the Top 25. The top 10 finalists will be announced on May 12 and the winners will be recognized on May 28 following the conclusion of the 2020 season.
The previous honorees of the Player of the Year Award are Courtney Poole, North Georgia (2015), Lyndsay Butler, Wayne State University (2016), Coley Ries, Minnesota State (2017), Kylee Smith, North Georgia (2018) and Julia Seader, LIU Post (2019). The award was split into a player and pitcher award for the 2019 season with Grand Valley State's Allison Lipovsky named Association's first-ever Schutt Sports/NFCA DII Pitcher of the Year.
Behind the collaboration of the NFCA and its NCAA Division II Head Coaches Committee, along with the generosity of Schutt Sports, the award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievement among NCAA DII softball student-athletes.
2020 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II Player & Pitcher of the Year Watch List
^ Denotes returning NFCA All-American
^ Ayanna Arceneaux, Western Oregon University, R-Junior, Outfield
^ Courtney Barnhill, Angelo State University, Senior, Outfield
^ Kayson Boatner, Anderson University, Sophomore, Infield
^ Shelby Booker, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Junior, Third Base
Keila Bosinger, University of California San Diego, Sophomore, Outfield
^ Rosa'Lynn Burton, Wilmington University, Senior, Outfield
^ Brenna Busby, Cameron University, Senior, Shortstop
^ Bailey Byers, Malone University, Junior, Catcher
^ Georgia Capell, Tarleton State University, Junior, Infield
Daijah Chambers, Winston-Salem State University, Senior, Second Base
Hannah Davis, Newberry College, Junior, Utility
^ Khmari Edwards, Cameron University, Sophomore, Second Base
^ Abby Fiessinger, Carson-Newman University, Senior, Outfield
Grace Gilbert, University of West Florida, Junior, Pitcher/Outfield
Lydia Goble, Grand Valley State University, Sophomore, Shortstop
Ty-Kella Goins, Lincoln Memorial University, Senior, Second Base
^ Nikoma Holmen, Grand Valley State University, Junior, First Base
^ Teala Howard, University of West Florida, Sophomore, Outfield
Kacie Kelly, Saint Leo University, Senior, Shortstop
^ Jordyn Kleman, Winona State University, Senior, Pitcher
Brooke Larsen, California State University, Chico, Junior, Pitcher
Anastasia Leibas, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Junior, Shortstop
^ Jennifer Leonhardt, University of Southern Indiana, Senior, Pitcher
^ Bailey McKittrick, University of Central Oklahoma, Sophomore, Pitcher
^ Ashley Mickschl, Augustana University, Senior, Pitcher
^ Ali Nowak, Winona State University, Senior, Catcher
^ Callie Nunes, Concordia University Irvine, Junior, Pitcher
^ MaKray Odom, Trevecca Nazarene University, Senior, Shortstop
Emily Otto, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Junior, Pitcher
Mary Pardo, Augustana University, Sophomore, Outfield
^ Liz Pautz, Winona State University, Junior, Pitcher
^ Morgan Perry, Saint Anselm College, Senior, Pitcher
Hazel Puempel, University of Central Oklahoma, Senior, Outfield
^ Tymber Riley, Arkansas Tech University, Sophomore, Second Base
Mahina Sauer, Southern Nazarene University, Senior, First Base
^ Kylee Smith, University of North Georgia, Senior, Pitcher
Breanna Smith, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Senior, Pitcher
^ Sydney Sprinkle, Concordia University Irvine, Sophomore, Catcher/First Base
^ Kelsey Sweatt, University of West Florida, Junior, Pitcher
Andee Tiffee, University of Missouri, St. Louis, Senior, Pitcher
^ AnnMarie Torres, Colorado Mesa University, Senior, First Base
Jacy Ummel, Drury University, Senior, Outfield
^ Brylynn Vallejos, San Francisco State University, Sophomore, Outfield
Sydney Wader, Southern Arkansas University, Senior, Pitcher
Lakyn Wagoner, University of Illinois at Springfield, Junior, Outfield
Magnolia West, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Senior, Outfield
Jordan Withrow, Tarleton State University, Senior, Pitcher
Jenna Witt, Concord University, Senior, Third Base
Kristin Worley, California State University, Chico, Senior, Shortstop
Ashley Worrell, Rollins College, Sophomore, Pitcher
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