LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Washburn sophomore outfielder
Makenzie Sais has been named to the 2026 NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year Watchlist announced today by the NFCA. Sais is one of 15 named to the list from the NCAA Central Region.
This season heading into this weekend's action Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney, Sais leads all of the NCAA levels with 58 stolen bases this season also ranking first in stolen bases per game with 1.49 per contest. She is also 18
th in the nation with 53 hits and 47
th in runs scored. Sais is batting a team-high .414 also leading the Ichabods with 16 multi-hit games. Sais' stolen base tally has already set a Washburn single season record and she needs eight more to break the MIAA's single season record of 65 that has stood since 1997.
Voted on by the NFCA's Division II All-American Committee, the 2026 NFCA Player of the Year and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year will be announced on May 27, a day prior to the start of the NCAA Division II National Championships. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season award and do not have to be on this list to be considered.
2026 NFCA Central Player of the Year and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year Region Watch List
Heather Arnett SS Sr. Pittsburg State MIAA Central
Jayda Berg P Jr. Winona State NSIC Central
Kennadi Borngrebe P So. Wayne State NSIC Central
Emma Duncan P Gr. Southern Arkansas GAC Central
Maddie Duncan P Sr. Sioux Falls NSIC Central
Hannah Green OF So. Fort Hays State MIAA Central
Maddie Leal OF Gr. Southern Arkansas GAC Central
Rylee Lemos OF Sr. Central Oklahoma MIAA Central
Emily Marth OF Jr. Wayne State NSIC Central
Taylor Nuckolls SS Sr. Missouri Southern MIAA Central
Kiki Pickens P Jr. Missouri Southern MIAA Central
America Rubio SS Gr. Southern Arkansas GAC Central
Makenzie Sais OF So. Washburn MIAA Central
Kadyn Trochim 3B Sr. Pittsburg State MIAA Central
Greenlee Wells SS Sr. Oklahoma Baptist GAC Central
