Top 25 National Player of the Year Finalists Announced

The twenty-five players who will vie for the title of National Player of the Year have been announced; the list includes several no-brainer selections and a few that leave you scratching your head.

The list of finalists includes players representing twenty different schools and nine conferences. Twice-defending champions Florida are joined by Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, and James Madison in placing two players on the list.

The state of Florida placed five players on the list, including the pairs of Gators and Seminoles as well as ace pitcher Kylee Hanson of Florida Atlantic. The state of Louisiana placed three on the list, from three different schools, including representatives of McNeese State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Louisiana-Monroe.

The group of finalists is comprised of nine seniors; eleven juniors; and five sophomores. Seven of the players in their final collegiate seasons were selected in the NPF Draft earlier this month.

Seven players find themselves a finalist for the second season in a row, including UCLA's Allexis ("Chip") Bennett; Louisiana-Lafayette's Lexie Elkins; James Madison's Megan Good; Minnesota's Sara Groenewegen; Alabama's Haylie McCleney; Michigan's Sierra Romero; and Notre Dame's Karley Wester.

Some big names and perennial award winners are notably absent from the list of finalists, including Oregon's Cheridan Hawkins; Georgia's Alex Hugo; Missouri's Sami Fagan; UCF's Shelby Turnier; and Florida's Kelsey Stewart.

The full list of finalists can be found below:

Ali Aguilar	Infield	Washington
Allexis Bennett	Outfield	UCLA
Jessica Burroughs	Pitcher	Florida State
Kasey Cooper	Third Base	Auburn
Koral Costa	Outfield	Oregon
Lexie Elkins	Catcher	Louisiana-Lafayette
Cortni Emanuel	Infield	Georgia
Jailyn Ford	Pitcher	James Madison
Megan Good	Pitcher	James Madison
Delanie Gourley	Pitcher	Florida
Sara Groenewegen	Pitcher	Minnesota
Kylee Hanson	Pitcher	Florida Atlantic
Sierra Lawrence	Outfield	Michigan
Sydney Littlejohn	Pitcher	Alabama
Haylie McCleney	Outfield	Alabama
Kelsey Nunley	Pitcher	Kentucky
Aleshia Ocasio	Pitcher	Florida
Paige Parker	Pitcher	Oklahoma
Erika Piancastelli	Catcher	McNeese State
Alex Powers	Infield	Florida State
Rochelle Roberts	Outfield	Louisiana-Monroe
Sierra Romero	Infield	Michigan
Lindsey Stephens	Outfield	Texas
Karley Wester	Outfield	Notre Dame
Morgan Zerkle	Outfield	Marshall