LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Saint Leo sophomore Kacie Kelly was named one of 50 student-athletes selected to the "Watch List" for the NFCA/Schutt Sports Division II National Player of the Year award, when the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the list on February 8.
 
Kelly was one of two Sunshine State Conference players selected to the watch list where Kelly was one of 28 returning NFCA All-Americans from a year ago. Last season, Kelly was selected as an Schutt Sports/NFCA DII Freshman of the Year finalists where she was one of eight players from across the country to be named to 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).
 
Kelly and the No. 23 ranked Saint Leo softball team will head back to the field Feb. 17-18 when they travel to Winter Park to take on Rollins in the Sunshine State Conference opener. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. Friday night.
 
For more information on the Saint Leo softball program, visit SaintLeoLions.com.  Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
 
2018 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II Player of the Year Watchlist
*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