LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Five Gulf South Conference players were recognized as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) revealed its 2026 Division II Player & Pitcher of the Year Watchlist. 

In total a 118 student-athletes representing 86 programs and 22 conferences were announced. The GSC quintet featured AUM’s Chloe Baynes and Reese Cauley, Montevallo’s Taylor Lloyd and Taylor Rogers, and Mississippi College’s Shelby Samples. Rogers was just one of 11 freshman to make the list.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
GSC STATS

The NFCA watchlist was compiled by elected members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athlete’s head coach must be an active NFCA member.

The NFCA DII Player & Pitcher of the Year awards will be announced on May 27. Student-athletes do not have to be on this watchlist to be considered for end-of-season awards, which will be voted on by the members of the NFCA Division II All-America Committee.

2026 NFCA Player & Pitcher of the Year Watchlist
Chloe Baynes, OF, Sr., AUM
Reese Cauley, P/1B, So.,  AUM
Taylor Lloyd, P, Sr., Montevallo
Taylor Rogers, OF, Fr., Montevallo
Shelby Samples, IF/UT, Sr., Mississippi College