The NCAA Softball Tournament begins May 17th at 16 different venues across the United States. Each regional venue will feature great players, but which one should fans pay particular attention to? He has one at each of the 10 positions fans should look for at this year’s NCAA Softball Championship. Introducing (or two) players.
Nijary Canady, P
team: Stanford Cardinal (Pac-12)
region: stanford
Stanford softball has had its share of good times in the past, but its current position on the map as an elite team starts with sophomore ace Njalee Canady. His right-hander ranks tops in the nation with an ERA of 0.50. She is second with 10.6 strikeouts per inning, and with Belmont’s Maya Johnson out, she will have the most Ks per inning in the tournament. Her 256 strikeouts are her first in the Pac-12 by more than 40. She finished with five strikeouts, the most in the country behind Boston College’s Casey Rickard, but she did so in 11 fewer games. The pitching staff ranks first in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio, thanks in large part to its ace. If the Cardinal returns to Oklahoma City, he will be Canady’s right-hand man.
Jocelyn Erickson, C
team: Florida Gators (SEC)
region: gainesville
Jocelyn Erickson spent her freshman season at the University of Oklahoma, where she won a national title. She did it primarily as a designated player and first baseman. After her transfer to Florida, she still played DP and first base, but she started spending more time behind the bat, her preferred position. She ranks fourth in the country with 45 total RBIs and fifth with 1.29 RBIs per game. On top of that, she hits at a .389 clip.
Shaylon Govan, 1B
team: baylor bears (Big 12)
region: lafayette
If the Bears need someone to get on base, Shaylon Govan could do it for them. She came in safely at a .590 clip, the second-best mark in DI this season. Her batting average of .444 leads Baylor and ranks eighth in the nation. She also leads the team in total walks (45) and walks per game (.88). She ranks ninth nationally in walks per game and is tied for 10th in total walks. Like her other teammates, she isn’t a big home run hitter either, but there are multiple ways to be successful with her offense. She found a way to become one of the most successful tablesetters in softball.
Carly Spade, 3B
team: Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (MAC)
region: knoxville
It is often said that there are great players everywhere. Carly Spade is proof of that. The Miami Redhawks third baseman is the only Division I player with a slugging percentage above 1.000. She leads the nation with a slugging percentage of 1.154. That’s ahead of teammate Jenna Golembiewski, who ranks second at .983. Spied’s 101 career home runs rank second in NCAA history behind former Oklahoma Sooner Joselyn Aro’s 122 HRs. She broke her own MAC single-season record with her 34 home runs this season. This was the first such record in 2024 and tied for second in NCAA history, 3 HR behind No. 1 Laura Espinoza’s 1995 season at Arizona. This year, Spied leads the nation in HR (.65), points per game (72) and points per game (1.38).
Maya Brady and Tiare Jennings, SS
team: UCLA Bruins (Pac-12) and oklahoma sooners (Big 12)
region: Los Angeles and Norman
There is no way to choose between these two players. Brady is a two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year and this season led the conference in RBI with 61 and tied for second with 15 HR. Although he didn’t lead the league in batting average this season, he still hit .403.
Tiare Jennings is a three-time national champion on teams that have dominated over the past decade. She and Brady both had strong seasons, but in slightly different ways. Jennings has four more HRs than Brady, but her average (.368) and RBI (57) are both lower despite playing in more games. Jennings, on the other hand, has a better fielding percentage with her .987 fielding percentage compared to Brady’s .919.
Kolbe Ortiz, OF
team: Florida Gators (SEC)
region: gainesville
Three of the most exciting outfielders in the sport play left field, making outfielders a common category for this list. Kolbe Ortiz should be in it. Ortiz was already an All-American at the University of Louisville before transferring to Florida in the offseason. There is little doubt that she will do so again. She ranks third in Division I in batting average (.467) and leads all players in on-base percentage (.596). If there’s any criticism of Ortiz, it’s on the defensive end. Her fielding percentage is just .970 in 100 chances.
Dakota Kennedy, OF
team: arizona wildcats (Pac-12)
region: fayetteville
The center field usually has the top outfielders in the game, but this year the three best players remained. Dakota Kennedy is special. She is an exciting true five-tool player who excels in all aspects of the game. Is it offensive? She can strike out, she can bunt and hit bases, and she can steal bases. She leads her offense with a strong Wildcat batting average of .400 and OPS of 1.177. Like defense? A ball hit near left field has little chance of hitting the ground. Whether it’s in front of her, in foul territory or shallow, Kennedy is going to get to it. She is fearless and dives into the out without thinking. She leads Arizona’s outfield with a perfect fielding percentage in 104 chances. The Wildcats boast her second-best fielding percentage in the nation (.982), best among teams in the power conference. Kennedy is a big reason why.
Claire Davidson, State of Oblivion
team: duke blue devils
region: durham
The Duke left fielder was named this season’s ACC Player of the Year. Her .531 OBP was second in the ACC. She led the league with a 1.439 OPS and .893 slugging percentage. She was fourth in the ACC in batting average (.423) and fifth in HR (16). She will be the key if the Blue Devils are to advance from home.
Reese Atwood, DP
team: texas longhorns
region: austin
Reece Atwood is listed as C/1B on Texas’ roster, but has earned enough minutes to be a designated starter. The sophomore led the nation in total RBIs (86) and RBIs per game (1.59). She broke the Longhorns’ HR (22 RBI) and total RBI records and was named Big 12 Player of the Year. Her .427 average was 18th in the country.
