Niles Among Top 10 Finalists for Inaugural NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year Award

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Anderson University standout Cailah Niles has been named to the inaugural NFCA Division II Freshman of the Year Top-10 Watch list, as announced by the organization late Friday morning.

The Phenix City, Ala. native was named to the initial Top-25 Watch List three weeks ago and is in the top 10 nationally after the list was pared down earlier this week. Niles earned First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference and SAC Freshman of the Year honors at the conclusion of the regular season, while being named to the SAC All-Tournament Team earlier this week after a phenomenal performance in Hartsville, S.C. She was 8-for-10 at the plate during the tournament, with a double, five home runs and nine RBI, while scoring six runs. The hard-hitting catcher earned 10 walks, while posting an impressive 2.400 slugging percentage and a .900 on-base percentage, with 24 total bases over the six-game span. 

Niles is currently tied for first place in the nation with 22 home runs and ranks second nationally with 69 RBI. She is third nationally in RBI per game and home runs per contest. Niles leads the league in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and total bases, while ranking third in the conference in hits and on-base percentage.

During the season, Niles posted two streaks - reaching base safely in 24 straight games and 16 consecutive games at one point, while recording a pair of nine-game hitting streaks and two five-game hitting streaks. She has committed just one error while starting 52 games behind the plate.

The NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented prior to the start of the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Behind the collaboration between the NFCA and its Division II Head Coaches Committee, the award was created to honor the outstanding athletic achievement among freshmen softball student-athletes throughout Division II.

This year's 10 finalists hail from nine different universities, while the group represents seven Division II leagues. Minnesota Duluth has two finalists with the Lone Star Conference, Heartland Conference and Northern Sun each boasting two representatives. The PacWest, South Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Southern Atlantic Conference and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association each had one finalist.

The top 3 finalists will be selected and released on Thurs., May 14. The inaugural NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony on Wednesday, May 20 prior to the opening of the Division II National Championship, which is being held in Oklahoma City, Okla. for the first time.

NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 10 Watch List
Cailah Niles-Anderson-C
Janessa Bassett-Dixie State-OF
Sydney Beuthien-Lubbock Christian-IF/OF
Carmen Byrd-Spring Hill College-2B
Morgan Dufour-St. Edwards-3B/SS/C
Brandy Marlett-Angelo State-RHP
Emmie Robertson-Pittsburg State-RHP
Hannah Schmoll-Minnesota Duluth-OF
Allie Smith-West Texas A&M-DP
Becky Smith-Minnesota Duluth-SS