WILLIAMSTOWN, MA - The Williams College softball program had players, junior pitcher Sadie Leonard and senior catcher Sydney Fleming named to the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America teams. Leonard earned First Team All-America At-Large Pitcher honors and First-Team All-American honors, while Sydney was named a Third Team All-American Catcher.
These prestigious awards are presented to the top 1% of collegiate softball student-athletes nationwide. To be named an All-American, a player must be nominated by their head coach, receive votes from coaches within their region or division, and ultimately be selected by the elected All-American committee members. Eph head coach Kris Herman commended the two honorees, stating, "Sadie and Sydney both had outstanding seasons and are deserving of All-American honors. Division III is full of great players and to be on this list is a tremendous honor for these players and for our program."
Sadie Leonard, ajunior from Tiburon, California, earned their second consecutive NFCA First Team All-America honors. This year, Leonard was named both the NFCA First Team All-American At-Large Pitcher and First Team All-American, a prestigious double distinction. They led the nation in total strikeouts and strikeouts per seven innings, finishing with 267 strikeouts and a 1.12 ERA over 144 innings, while posting a 16–4 record. Leonard also broke their own single-season strikeout record and currently holds the program career record with 716 strikeouts. Leonard earned First Team All-NESCAC honors and led the NESCAC in ERA, strikeouts, and opponent batting average this season.
Leonard's accolades extend beyond this season. In 2024, they were named NFCA First Team All-American, NESCAC Pitcher of the Year, and earned All-NESCAC First Team honors. In 2023, as a first-year, Leonard was named the NCAA Division III Strikeout Statistical Champion (11.8 K/7 IP), earned NFCA Second Team All-American honors, and was named NESCAC Pitcher of the Year and Co-Rookie of the Year.
Kris Herman reflected on Leonard's impact this season, noting, "Sadie once again dominated day in and day out in the circle and was the reason we were able to have so much success. Statistically, Sadie had a great year and they also have a great impact on our team each time out. Sadie worked hard to improve day after day and I think we were all proud to be on Sadie's team."
Senior catcher Sydney Fleming, from Burlingame, California, capped her outstanding career with her first All-American recognition, earning a spot on the NFCA Third Team. Fleming smashed single-season program records for home runs and RBIs with 21 and 52 respectively, and set the all-time career home run record with 49. Behind the plate, Fleming was equally impressive, posting a .993 fielding percentage, 252 putouts, 15 assists, and only 2 errors.
Fleming's record breaking season earned her the title of NESCAC Player of the Year and First Team All-NESCAC honors. Fleming led the NESCAC in slugging percentage, home runs, RBIs, and OPS. This year marks her third career All-NESCAC selection, having also received First Team honors in 2023 and Second Team honors in 2024.
Coach Kris Herman spoke about Fleming's outstanding year, saying, "Sydney also was head and shoulders out front in many stat categories this season, for our team, in the conference and nationally and deserves to be on this list! She kept us in games, started comebacks and was a force at the plate while doing much of the catching as well. Her competitiveness really pushed our team all season and I'm excited for Syd to go out with this great honor."
