Softball | 4/1/2026 2:34:00 PM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong), a junior outfielder for the Gannon softball team, has been named to the 2026 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year Watchlist.

A total of 118 student-athletes from across the country were selected to the watchlist, which is broken down by the eight NCAA regions. Smerick was one of 15 student-athletes recognized in the Atlantic Region and one of eight representatives from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

The watchlist is compiled by members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee, with one head coach representing each NCAA region. To be eligible, a student-athlete's head coach must be a current NFCA member.

Smerick has continued her strong play into the 2026 season, leading the Golden Knights with a .453 batting average while ranking third in the PSAC. She also leads both Gannon and the conference with 15 stolen bases, paces the team with 24 hits, and is tied for the team lead with five doubles. In addition, she ranks third in the PSAC with an .811 slugging percentage.

Her early-season success builds off a standout sophomore campaign in 2025, where she earned PSAC West Athlete of the Year honors and was named to the NFCA Division II All-Atlantic Region First Team. Smerick became Gannon's first PSAC West Athlete of the Year since Jess Rectenwald in 2015 and is now a two-time All-PSAC West First Team selection.

The Ford City, Pa. native hit .394 (61-for-155) while leading the team in both batting average and hits. She added 34 RBI and showcased a dynamic mix of power and speed at the top of the lineup, totaling 11 doubles, a team-leading nine triples, and six home runs. Her nine triples marked the second-highest single-season total in program history.

Smerick also set a new program record with 35 stolen bases in 2025, giving her 55 through her first two seasons. She has already added 15 more steals during the 2026 campaign, bringing her career total to 70 — which currently ranks second in program history behind Laura Kitchen (72, 1999–02). She led the team with a .697 slugging percentage and posted a .469 on-base percentage, while her 108 total bases ranked fourth in a single season. She recorded 16 multi-hit games, including six contests with three hits.

Smerick is joined on the Atlantic Region watchlist by standouts from programs including Lock Haven University, East Stroudsburg University, Slippery Rock University, and Seton Hill University, among others from the Mount East Conference. 

The 2026 NFCA Player of the Year and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year awards will be announced on May 27, one day prior to the start of the NCAA Division II National Championships. All student-athletes remain eligible for the end-of-season awards, regardless of watchlist inclusion.

Atlantic Region Watchlist

• Emma Smerick (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong), OF, Jr. — Gannon (PSAC)
• Blaire Balestrini, IF/UT, So. — Lock Haven (PSAC)
• Maci Boggess, P, Jr. — Glenville State (MEC)
• Sarah Davenport, P, Jr. — East Stroudsburg (PSAC)
• Addison Mass, P, Sr. — Charleston (MEC)
• Alyssa Massucci, UT, So. — Slippery Rock (PSAC)
• Jailyn Myrick, UT, So. — Virginia Union (CIAA)
• Lexi Pickett, C, So. — Millersville (PSAC)
• Kinsley Proepper, C/IF, So. — East Stroudsburg (PSAC)
• Zailees Seda, IF, Jr. — Glenville State (MEC)
• Alyssa Sheely, OF, Sr. — Slippery Rock (PSAC)
• Shelby Telegdy, P, So. — Seton Hill (PSAC)
• Paytyn Tucker, OF, Jr. — West Liberty (MEC)
• Paige Whittington, OF/UT, Sr. — Bluefield State (CIAA)
• Reagan Winn, 1B/3B, Jr. — West Virginia Wesleyan (MEC)