LOUISVILLE, Ky.—UIndy softball student-athletes Lexy Rees and Kenzee Smith earned inclusion on the 2023 Tucci/NFCA DII Player & Pitcher of the Year Watchlist, released by the coaches association Thursday. The list was compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee, with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions.
 
New in 2023, the list is broken down by region – Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West – with up to 15 student-athletes represented in each. Voted on by the aforementioned All-American Committee, the 2023 Tucci/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year will be announced on June 1. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season award, and do not have to be on this list to be considered.

Lexy Rees ranks second on the team in batting average (.359) and doubles (8). The senior catcher enters the weekend with 27 career home runs and 134 career RBIs, good for seventh and eighth, respectively, in the UIndy annals.
 
Her battery-mate, Kenzee Smith, is having another stellar season in the circle. The junior hurler from Indianapolis ranks in the top 25 in Division II in wins, strikeouts and hits allowed per 7 IP. Last season, Smith was a top 25 finalist for the NFCA Player & Pitcher of the Year award.
 
 
MIDWEST REGION HONOREES
Kendall Andrews, Trevecca Nazarene, C, Jr.
Hannah Beatus, Grand Valley State, P, Gr.
Anna Bennett, Trevecca Nazarene, OF, Jr.
Joanna Cirrincione, Grand Valley State, OF, Gr.
Lydia Goble, Grand Valley State, SS, Sr.
Lauren Harris, McKendree, IF, Fr.
Hailey Leister Northwood, P, Sr.
Megan Matheis, Kentucky Wesleyan, IF, Fr.
Ellie Quaethem, McKendree, P, Jr.
Lexy Rees, UIndy, C, Sr.
Avery Shepherd, Findlay, IF, Jr.
Kenzee Smith, UIndy, P, Jr.
Olivia Stansbury, McKendree, UT, Sr.
Irene Travis, Missouri-St. Louis, SS, Sr.
Morgan Wagner, Grand Valley State, UT, Sr.