LEXINGTON, Ky. --- The National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Friday announced that Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) has been awarded as the 2025 NFCA Division III National Pitcher of the Year.
  
Ellis completes her storied and nationally recognized career with the honor as the nation's top division III softball pitcher, which was voted on by coaches across the country. The prestigious honor caps a legendary season and career for the New Kent, Virginia, native. Ellis led the nation in multiple categories all season and finished with the nation's top marks in games-started (36), innings pitched (238.1), shutouts (15) and  strikeouts (294). The New Kent native also ranked second in complete games with 29, adding to being third in hits allowed per seven (3.97), wins (29) and WHIP (0.66). 

The individual effort was a huge part in the Yellow Jackets making a run to their program's second overall appearance in the NCAA Division III Championships in Bloomington, Illinois. Ellis led the Lemon and Black in the circle to being named champions of the Newport News Regional and Bethlehem Super Regional. The Lemon and Black went on an 8-3 run through the NCAA Championships, as Ellis was elite in the circle. The senior racked up notable wins over #2 Christopher Newport twice, #18 Moravian twice, #7 Saint Mary's (Minn.), #4 Rowan and #3 Virginia Wesleyan. She shutout the Greyhounds twice and Profs during that span and in 72.1 innings, struck out 79 batters and allowed only eight walks.     

Ellis helped Randolph-Macon softball tie its program record in wins at 42 and also led the team to a national semifinal appearance as the lowest seeded team in the final eight. She will end her career with five no-hitters and five perfect games in her storied career for the Lemon and Black. 

The senior was twice recognized as the NFCA Division III Pitcher of the Week and was singled out as the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week four times. These in-season accomplishments led her to a first team NFCA All-America announcement, adding to being named as an All-American for the fourth straight year. Ellis racked up first team all-region and first team all-odac nodes and was the conference's pitcher of the year. 
 
In 2025, Ellis either set or reset the following Randolph-Macon single-season records:

• Wins (29)
• Strikeouts (294)
• Complete Games (29)
• Innings Pitched (238.1)
• WHIP (0.66)
• Games Started (35)
• Shutouts (15) - tied for ODAC single-season record
• Appearances (38) 

She concludes her career owning every major career pitching record at Randolph-Macon:

• Appearances (130)
• Wins (95) - 2nd in ODAC history
• Saves (9)
• Strikeouts (959) - 2nd in ODAC history
• Earned Run Average (1.26)
• Shutouts (41) - 2nd in ODAC history

NFCA DIVISION III
PITCHER AND PLAYER OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS
*2025 — Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon (pitcher) & Tristen Maddox, East Texas Baptist (player)
2024 — Tayah Kelley, Linfield (pitcher) & Tristen Maddox, East Texas Baptist (player)
2023 — Lindsey Windsor, Salisbury (player) & Kayla Simacek, Bethel (pitcher)
2022 — Kaitlyn Hasty, Christopher Newport (player) & Alexis Michon, Eastern Connecticut State (pitcher)
*2021 — Jessica Goldyn, Virginia Wesleyan (player) & Hanna Hull, Virginia Wesleyan (pitcher)
2020 — no awards presented due to COVID-19
*2019 — Mackenzie Chitwood, Lynchburg (player) & Ally Wiegand, Illinois Wesleyan (pitcher)
*2018 — Hanna Hull, pitcher, Virginia Wesleyan
*2017 — Hanna Hull, pitcher, Virginia Wesleyan
2016 — Kelsey Batton, pitcher, UT Tyler

* At least one ODAC honoree