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It’s time for my regular season awards for the 2025 season. Let’s hand out some fun awards and superlatives. 

Most feared hitter: Bri Ellis, Arkansas

I'll start off with the most feared hitter. It's got to go to Bri Ellis at Arkansas. She's putting together a historic season at the plate, leading the country in slugging. We saw it at the SEC tournament when she didn't see a strike all game until they HAD to pitch to her with bases loaded. Her first swing was a game-winning grand slam. She's the most feared hitter, by a landslide. 

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE: Women's College World Series scores, bracket schedule

Home run queen: Cori McMillan, Virginia Tech

The HR Queen Award for the year, goes to Virginia Tech’s Cori McMillan. She's in the exclusive 30-homer club that not many players in softball history have achieved. 

Most impactful transfer: Sam Landry, Oklahoma

I am giving the most impactful transfer to Oklahoma’s Sam Landry. After talking about joining an OU team that lost almost the entirety of their lineup and pitching staff that won 4-straight titles, Landry has carried a huge load for the Sooners. She's kept this team at the top of college softball. Landry and the Sooners joined the SEC and won the regular season title. She's so impactful. 

PREDICTIONS: Bracket picks for the 2025 ������Ƶ softball tournament

Freshman of the Year: Tori Edwards, LSU

Freshman of the year was one of the toughest choices on this list. There are so many deserving players, but to me, it came down to Taylor Shumaker and Tori Edwards. I compared every stat there is — including in SEC play — and ended up giving Tori the edge. Edwards Hit over .400 and had 18 bombs in just her freshman season, and she maintained this level of play all season. 

Best HR Cellys: North Carolina

North Carolina sends their players into the sky when they hit a bomb, my favorite celebration by far. 

Rayna's HR is run No. 366, which ties the program record for the most runs scored in a single season!

— Carolina Softball (@UNCSoftball)

Best dugout antics: Ole Miss (wigs)

You couldn’t make me not pick Ole Miss wearing colorful wigs in the dugout. I love it. 

Biggest inspiration: Michaela Edenfield, FSU

Michaela Edenfield’s legendary makeup looks have had an underlying message of confidence all along. She has been an incredible inspiration on the field for many years, as a poised leader, player and teammate. I know so many young players will look up to her for years to come. 

.'s makeup is out of this world 👽 x

— ������Ƶ Softball (@������ƵSoftball)

Best catcher: Reese Atwood, Texas

Best catcher award was tough, with lots of great options behind the dish. But I’ve got to give it out to Reese Atwood at Texas. Her offensive numbers speak for themselves, plus she is a great defender, and she has the clutch gene as well. 

Best two-way player: Jordy Bahl, Nebraska

Best two-way player goes to Jordy Bahl. She was named Big Ten Pitcher and Player of the Year for the first time in history. To genuinely be considered one of the best pitchers and hitters in the country is unreal. Bahl is not just average at both; she is exceptional at both. 

BRACKET: Click or tap here for the DI softball interactive bracket

Best duo: Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery, UCLA

The best duo has got to go to Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery at UCLA. It has to be any pitcher's nightmare going up against Woolery and then Grant back to back, as both have 20-plus homers. 

Pitcher of the Year: NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech

Pitcher of the Year goes to NiJaree Canady at Texas Tech. Her numbers are unreal, and somehow we’ve grown used to seeing them. She has under a 1 era, around .8 this season. Canady has also thrown over 260 strikeouts. She is a dominating presence in the circle. 

No fly zone award: Kendra Falby, Florida

The no fly zone award goes to the one and only Kendra Falby at Florida. She is a human highlight reel in center field. A home run robbery is just a regular day for Falby. She climbs the ladder like no other. 

RIDICULOUS 🤯😳 x

📺 (SECN)

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB)

DARK HORSES: 3 dark horse teams to know in the ������Ƶ softball tournament

Breakout team: South Carolina

The breakout team award goes to South Carolina. New head coach Ashley Chastain made an incredible difference in her first year. The Gamecocks are a top-eight seed in the tournament for the first time in history. 

Breakout star: Mya Perez, Texas A&M

The breakout star award goes to Texas A&M’s Mya Perez. She went from hitting in the .200s last year with minimal appearances to being an absolute superstar, leading this Texas A&M team ranked No. 1 for the tournament. Perez is batting close to .450, with 14 homers and close to 70 RBIS. She's a breakout star for sure.

Most underrated player: Jazzy Burns, Ohio State

There were a lot of choices here, and I almost went with North Carolina’s Kat Rodriguez who leads the country in RBIs. However, I don’t think Jasmyn Burns at Ohio State gets NEARLY enough credit. Her numbers are comparable with the best in the country. She has over 20 home runs with a top 10 national batting average. 

Best moment: Karlyn Pickens' record-breaking pitch

The best moment award goes to Karlyn Pickens for moving the sport forward and making softball history with the fastest pitch ever thrown in the sport. It was incredible. 

Catch of the Year: Kramer Eschete, Texas A&M

The catch of the Year goes to Kramer Eschete at Texas A&M. It was just unbelievable as she brought it back over the wall and caught it for a second time. 

Eschete with THE CATCH ‼️👏

— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball)

HARDER THAN IT LOOKS: College softball regional hosts with the toughest paths to the WCWS

Biggest team impact: Lindsey Grein, Oregon

The biggest team impact award goes to Lindsey Grein at Oregon. She transferred to the program and led them to new heights this year as an NPOTY candidate. 

Heart of the game award: Kenzie Brown, Arizona State

I am giving the heart of the game award to Kenzie Brown at Arizona State. Brown came back from missing an entire season in 2024 due to injury and is now one of the best pitchers in the country. She's so humble and hardworking and is a role model for her teammates and beyond. 

Base Burglar: Audrey Vandagriff, Alabama

And lastly, we’ve got the base burglar award, and I am giving it to Audrey Vandagriff at Alabama. The freshman has been wreaking havoc on the base paths all season. She has led the country for most of the year and leads the SEC in stolen bases. Vandagriff is a clutch player in big moments, too, for the Tide, just getting it done in a lot of different ways. Shout out to Oregon’s Kai Luschar, too — a speedster on the base paths with over 50 stolen bases.