LOUISVILLE, KY -- Four Peach Belt Conference softball players are among the 118 named to the NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist. North Georgia's Chloe Poss and Sydnee Reeves, Columbus State's Aubree Ussery and USC Beaufort's Taelor Chang were all named to the list from the southeast region.
Reaves has put together a dominant season at the plate, leading the Peach Belt Conference in slugging percentage (.856), OPS (1.375), runs scored (40), hits (56), RBI (45), doubles (19) and home runs (10), while ranking third in batting average (.455). A consistent offensive force, she has powered North Georgia's lineup and established herself as one of the top hitters in Division II.
Poss has been equally impressive in the circle, leading the conference in wins (17) and batters struck out looking (37). She also ranks second in ERA (1.87), strikeouts (99) and innings pitched (119.2), serving as a cornerstone of the Nighthawks' pitching staff. Her steady presence and ability to control games have made her one of the premier pitchers in the league.
A sophomore from LaGrange, Ga., Ussery has been a consistent offensive force for the Cougars this season. She is currently batting .448 with a 1.195 OPS, totaling 43 hits in 96 at-bats while starting all 30 games. Ussery has recorded eight doubles, six home runs, and 25 RBI, along with a .719 slugging percentage and .476 on-base percentage. She has also shown discipline at the plate with six walks and has been perfect in stolen base attempts (1-for-1).
Chang has been a leader for the Sandsharks this season, sitting second in the Peach Belt Conference in batting average (.464) and OPS (1.221). The senior from Lebanon, TN. is totalling 39 hits from 84 at-bats. Chang has recorded seven doubles, five home runs and 30 RBI with a .726 slugging percentage and .495 on-base percentage.
The list is broken down into the eight NCAA Regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West) with up to 15 student-athletes represented in each region. The list is compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions.
Voted on by the NFCA's Division II All-American Committee, the 2026 NFCA Player of the Year and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year will be announced on May 27, a day prior to the start of the NCAA Division II National Championships.
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.