LOUISVILLE, Ky. | National Fastpitch Coaches Association - The NFCA released its 2025 NCAA Division II National Player/Pitcher of the Year Watchlist this past week with McKendree University softball standout and reigning DII Player of the Year Lauren Harris (Junior / Shortstop) being named to the watchlist as she continues to reach new heights in her career. The shortstop leads the Bearcats in major statistical categories across the board while starting all contests on the year, helping push her squad to its longest ranked streak and highest national ranking ever. Over her 39 games, as she owns a .440/.514/.696 slash behind 55 hits, 40 RBIs, 32 runs scored, 23 extra-base knocks, 87 total bases, while striking out just once on the season. Harris and the 21st-ranked Bearcats are back in action this upcoming Monday at UIS after the doubleheader was shifted due to weather in the region, facing the Prairie Stars at 2:00PM on April 7 in Springfield, Illinois.

Midwest Region Watchlist
Annika Bredel - IF - Jr. - Findlay
Ella Brinkley – IF - Sr. - Illinois-Springfield
Cara Cooper - UT - So. - Indianapolis
Katelyn DeWitt - 3B - Fr. - Wayne State
Kaleigh Golden - OF - Sr. - Ohio Dominican
Delaney Garden - P/OF - Sr. - Lewis
*Lauren Harris - SS - Jr. - McKendree | 2024 DII NPOTY, First Team All-American
Olivia Hernandez - C - Jr. - Purdue Northwest
Macy Irelan - P - Jr. - Saginaw Valley
Molly Koesters - 1B - Jr. - Tiffin
Elly Koopman - P/1B - Fr. - Wayne State
Alexis Kozlowski - 1B - So. - Ferris State
Angie Micone - OF - So. - Southwest Baptist
Joni Russell - P - Sr. - Hillsdale
Brooklyn Willis - OF - Fr. - Indianapolis

Harris' Statistical Rankings - GLVC

Category	Ranking
Batting Average	2nd
Slugging Percentage	1st
On-Base Percentage	1st
On-Base Plus Slugging	1st
Hits	2nd
Runs	6th
RBIs	1st
Doubles	1st

Season Feats (through 4/3/2025)
- Recorded a hit in 31 of 39 games
- 18 multi-hit games
- 12 multi-RBI games
- 18 games with an extra-base hit
- 23 games with a run scored
- 21 games with an RBI
- 1 strikeout over 125 ABs

About the Award

One hundred and sixteen student-athletes from across the country were revealed as part of the 2025 NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist. 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 2025 NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on May 30 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.

UP NEXT
April 7 | 12:00PM/2:00PM @ Illinois Springfield | Springfield, Illinois | Watch / Live Stats
        *doubleheader moved from original date of April 5 due to weather forecast in the region

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