2024 D1Softball Awards
AwardsFollowing the unveiling of the 2024 D1Softball All-Americans on Tuesday, we now present the 2024 D1Softball Awards.
With the intent of recognizing the best of the best at their craft, we’re handing out both a Player of the Year and a Pitcher of the Year title. We also award the D1Softball Freshman of the Year and the Comeback Player of the Year, which goes to a player who missed the previous season due to injury and made an impact upon their return to the field in 2024.
D1Softball Player of the Year
Reese Atwood, Texas
One of 2024’s best breakout stars, Atwood earns National Player of the Year honors after a stellar season. Establishing herself as one of the nation’s most feared hitters, Atwood owns a .435 batting average and a 1.409 OPS. She led top-seeded Texas with 23 home runs, nearly doubling the total of her next-closest teammate. Atwood leads the nation with 90 RBIs and has earned 33 free passes, including 23 walks and 10 hit-by-pitches. Defensively, she owns a .972 fielding percentage and has been a rock behind the plate for the Longhorns.
D1Softball Pitcher of the Year
NiJaree Canady, Stanford
Canady cemented her standing as the nation’s best pitcher as a sophomore, leading the nation with a 0.65 ERA and 310 strikeouts on the year. She averaged 10.6 strikeouts per seven innings, but allowed just over three hits per seven innings through the course of the year. Canady owns a 22-5 overall record and picked up extra-inning victories over some of the nation’s best offenses, including an 8-inning victory over Texas and a 9-inning victory over Georgia early in the year.
D1Softball Freshman of the Year
Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State
Beachum made a dent in the Florida State program record books and made an impact on the national stage as a rookie. Beachum finished the season with a .417 batting average, the third-highest mark of any player in FSU program history. She led her team in six offensive categories, including with 16 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a .509 on-base percentage. Beachum posted a .970 fielding percentage, making just five errors at the hot corner, and quickly became a staple in the Noles’ batting order and defensive lineup.
D1Softball Comeback Player of the Year
Aliyah Binford, Baylor
Binford appeared in 11 games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury. She returned with a vengeance in 2024, re-establishing herself as a two-way threat and making an impact at the plate and in the circle. She took on workhorse-esque innings in the circle, posting a 3.23 ERA, 13 wins, and 154 strikeouts in 153.2 innings of work. She held opponents to a .240 batting average and also notched two saves. At the plate, Binford hit .272 on the year, with three home runs, 21 RBIs, and seven doubles. She also finished third on the Baylor roster with six stolen bases.