Two University of Rochester softball student-athletes, junior right-handed pitcher Molly Broccolo and sophomore utility Riley Laygo earned spots on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's (NFCA) 2025 NFCA Division III Pitcher and Player of the Year watchlists, as announced by the NFCA on Thursday.
 
Both Broccolo and Laygo were named to the list for the second time in their careers, with Laygo having earned the honor last season while Broccolo was selected as a first-year in 2023.
 
A three-time First-Team All-Liberty League selection and a 2023 NFCA Third-Team All-American, Broccolo is again off to a tremendous start in the circle with a 7-3 record and 2.54 ERA in 49.2 innings pitched. Over 10 starts and 13 total appearances, Broccolo has allowing just 18 earned runs on 64 hits, striking out 43 and walking just 10.
 
The Webster, NY native has pitched three complete games and four shutouts, including three-straight dating back to the Yellowjackets home opener against St. John Fisher on March 19. Statistically, Broccolo leads the Liberty League in games started, ranks second in shutouts and wins, and third in strikeouts.
 
A 2024 NFCA Second-Team All-American and the reigning Liberty League Player of the Year, Laygo is once again UR's top bat through 18 contests, batting .381/.435/.810 so far this season. The sophomore has started all 18 games, tallying 24 hits, 10 doubles, a triple, five home runs, 21 runs scored and 16 RBI.
 
Laygo has also struck out just six times and walked five times, while stealing five bags in six attempts on the basepaths. Nationally, Laygo ranks 23rd in Division III in doubles per game, 49th in home runs per game, 50th in home runs and 77th in slugging percentage.
 
Compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee, the list is separated into the 10 NCAA regions. Headlining the list are 21 returning NFCA All-Americans, including Laygo, and in all, 85 different schools are represented on the list.
 
Voted on by the NFCA's Division III All-American Committee, the 2025 NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on June 6, following the conclusion of the NCAA Division III Finals. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season awards and do not have to be on this list to be considered.