Postseason Honors:
Balestrini named Softball PSAC East Freshman of the Year
Balestrini earns NFCA First Team Atlantic All-Region Honors
Balestrini named to D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Team
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lock Haven softball phenom
Blaire Balestrini was named a finalist for the 2025 NCAA Division II National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Freshman of the Year, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Balestrini, who was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Freshman of the Year, was named the finalist for the prestigious NFCA award out of the Atlantic Region, where she was named a First Team Shortstop.
Balestrini is the first ever Bald Eagle to be named a finalist for the NFCA Freshman of the Year award, which started in 2015.
Eight finalists, one from each of the NCAA's eight regions, have been selected by the Association's Division II All-America Committee.
Balestrini (Atlantic), Missouri Southern State University's Bailey Dillon (Central), Thomas Jefferson University's Delaney Alix (East), Tiffin University's Jessica Miller (Midwest), Rollins College's Brianna Perantoni (South), Colorado Mesa's Jessalyn Gallegos (South Central), University of North Georgia's Carleigh Knowles (Southeast) and Sonoma State's Sophia Newcomb (West) are now in the running for the award, which will be announced on Tuesday, May 20.
Seven of the eight finalists were voted NFCA First- or Second-Team All-Region. Balestrini, Dillon, Miller, Perantoni and Knowles earned first-team honors, while Alix and Newcomb collected second-team accolades.
Miller was tabbed the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player and Freshman of the Year with Balestrini (PSAC East), Dillon (MIAA), Alix (CACC), Gallegos (RMAC), Knowles (Peach Belt) and Newcomb (CCAA) named their respective conference's freshmen of the year.
Six of the finalists – Balestrini, Alix, Dillon, Miller, Perantoni and Newcomb - are representing their institutions for the first time, while it is the third nod for Colorado Mesa and second for North Georgia.
Past winners include: 2024 – Sarah Davenport, East Stroudsburg; 2023 - Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman; 2022 - Caleigh Rister, PennWest California; 2021 - Kenzee Smith, Indianapolis; 2019 - Bailey McKittrick, Central Oklahoma; 2018 - Callie Nunes, Concordia; 2017 - Autumn Humes, Harding; 2016 Charlotte Romero, Colorado Christian; 2015 - Janessa Bassett, Dixie State.
