UB's Mya Jones Named A Finalist For 2023 TUCCI / NFCA Division II Freshman Of The Year Award

Louisville Kentucky–Eight finalists, one from each of the NCAA's eight regions, have been selected by the Association's Division II All-America Committee for the 2023 TUCCI / NFCA Division II Freshman of the Year award. 

West Chester's Danielle Ciliberto (Atlantic), Central Oklahoma's Emily Deramus (Central), Bridgeport's Mya Jones (East), McKendree's Lauren Harris (Midwest), UAH's Katie Bracken (South), West Texas A&M's Emilee Boyer (South Central), Carson-Newman's Macauley Bailey (Southeast) and Biola's Colby McClinton (West) are now in the running for the award, which will be announced on Thursday, May 23. 

All eight finalists were voted NFCA First- or Second-Team All-Region. Three of the finalists – Harris (South Atlantic Conference), Bailey (Great Lakes Valley Conference) and McClinton (PacWest Conference) – were named their league's Freshman and Player of the Year.

Additionally – Deramus (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association), Jones (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference) and Boyer (Lone Star Conference) - captured their conference's Freshman of the Year accolades, while Bracken was voted the Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Year.

Five of the finalists – Bailey, Bracken, Ciliberto, Jones and McClinton - are representing their institutions for the first time, while it is the second nod for Central Oklahoma, McKendree and West Texas A&M.

Created in 2015, the award honors the outstanding athletic achievement among freshman softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. To be eligible, student-athletes must come from a NFCA member institution. 

Past winners include Janessa Bassett (Dixie State – 2015), Autumn Humes (Harding – 2017), McKittrick (Central Oklahoma – 2019), Callie Nunes (Concordia Irvine – 2018), Charlotte Romero (Colorado Christian – 2016), Caleigh Rister (Cal Pa. - 2022) and Kenzee Smith (UIndy – 2021).

2023 TUCCI/NFCA DII National Freshman of the Year Finalists

Atlantic – Danielle Ciliberto, West Chester University, Pitcher

Central – Emily Deramus, University of Central Oklahoma, Shortstop

East – Mya Jones, University of Bridgeport, Third Base

Midwest – Lauren Harris, McKendree University, Shortstop

South – Katie Bracken, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Pitcher

South Central – Emilee Boyer, West Texas A&M University, Utility/Pitcher

Southeast – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman University, DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher

West – Colby McClinton, Biola University, Shortstop

Finalists announced for 2023 TUCCI/NFCA Division II Freshman of the Year