LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Pitcher Sydney Rader was among 116 student-athletes from across the country revealed as part of the 2025 NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist. This marks her first time making the list, and she becomes the first Griffon since Sydni Hawkins in 2023 to make the list.
 
In her final go-around with Missouri Western, the fifth-year senior has been downright dominant in the circle. Rader currently ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in wins (12), complete games (15), shutouts (6), innings pitched (105), No. 2 in ERA (1.47) and No. 3 in strikeouts (98).
 
Her six shutouts are second most amongst all pitchers in NCAA Division II, her 15 complete games are third most in the nation and her 12 wins are tied for sixth most.
 
Headlining the list are 21 returning NFCA All-Americans, seven from the first team, including reigning Player of the Year, Lauren Harris from McKendree University. In all, the group consists of 88 programs from 21 different conferences.

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. PREVIOUS WINNERS (Player / Pitcher)
2024 - Lauren Harris, McKendree University / Kenzee Smith, University of Indianapolis
2023 – Zoe Willis, Georgia Southwestern State University / Tatum Goff, UT Tyler
2022 – Kayson Boatner, Anderson University / Andrea Morales, Rogers State University
2021 - Shanna McBroom, West Texas A&M University /  Morgan Perry, Saint Anselm College
2019 - Julia Seader LIU Post / Allison Lipovsky, Grand Valley State University
2018 - Kylee Smith, University of North Georgia
2017 - Coley Ries, Minnesota State University Mankato
2016 -  Lyndsay Butler, Wayne State University
2015 - Courtney Poole, University of North Georgia
The award was not presented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CENTRAL REGION WATCHLIST SELECTIONS
*Heather Arnett - UT - Jr. - Pittsburg State
*Desi Cuevas - OF - So. - Augustana
*Grace Glanzer - P - Gr. - Augustana
Sammie Green - OF - Sr. - Oklahoma Baptist
Brooke Holmes - IF - So. - St. Cloud State
Kaya Lee - OF - Sr. - Harding
Rylee Lemos - OF - Jr. - Central Oklahoma
*Alexis Monty - 3B - So. - Concordia St. Paul
Zoey Neal - 1B - Jr. - Harding
Kiki Pickens - P - So. - Missouri Southern State
Sydney Rader - P - Sr. - Missouri Western State University
*Terin Ritz - P/1B - Sr. - Central Oklahoma
Abbey Rogers - C - Sr. - Rogers State
Brinson Rogers - P - Sr. - Southern Arkansas
Nicole Schmitt - IF - Sr. - Minnesota Duluth
* Denotes 2024 Division II All-American