LOUISVILLE, Ky. — California University of Pennsylvania standout Caleigh Rister was recently announced as a finalist for the Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II National Freshman of the Year according to Sports Information Director Matt Kifer.

Rister was one of eight finalists — one from each of the NCAA Division II regions — selected by the NFCA All-America Committee. Created in 2015, the award honors the outstanding athletic achievement among the freshman softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II.

A native of Bucyrus, Ohio, Rister continues to garner accolades following her debut spring as a two-way standout. She was a consensus first-team all-region selection at utility/pitcher by the NFCA and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). Additionally, she was selected both the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Freshman of the Year and PSAC West Pitcher of the Year while earning All-PSAC West First-Team status at utility/pitcher.

Rister led the team in virtually every offensive and pitching category in 2022 despite missing six games due to injury. She finished the year with a .415 batting average, a .560 on-base percentage and an .829 slugging percentage from the leadoff spot in the lineup. Rister tallied 20 extra-base hits, including a team-leading five home runs, while collecting 23 RBI and 36 runs scored.

A 5-foot-4 freshman, Rister posted a 13-4 record and a 1.58 ERA in 102.0 innings pitched. She tossed 11 complete games with five shutouts while registering a 2.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At THE Spring Games in Florida, Rister posted a 4-1 record with a minuscule 0.24 ERA over 28.2 innings pitched behind a trio of complete-game shutouts.

Rister is one of three finalists to receive first-team all-region laurels from the NFCA this year, plus serves as the lone finalist that is a two-way standout. She is the first player in program history to be named a finalist for the National Freshman of the Year Award.

The National Freshman of the Year will be announced on May 26.