![Parrish Community High s Isabella \"Isa\" Vega pitches against Lakewood Ranch, Thursday night March 23, 2023, at Lakewood Ranch High.
Sar Pchw Vs Lrhs Softball 01](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3339,h_1878/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/518/01jtrj85tgxzbt0q11ga.jpg "Parrish Community High s Isabella \\"Isa\\" Vega pitches against Lakewood Ranch, Thursday night March 23, 2023, at Lakewood Ranch High.
Sar Pchw Vs Lrhs Softball 01")
UCF freshman pitcher Isabella Vega just continues to pile on the honors. For the first time in program history, Vegas was named to the Top 25 list of the NFCA National Division I Freshman of the Year Award, but she has even outdone that.
It was announced today that Vegas has been named a Top 10 finalist for the award, marking the first time a UCF player has ever been given the honor. Vega, who red-shirted the 2024 season, has been the best pitcher for the Knights this season with a 1.16 ERA in 16 starts and 27 appearances. Vega has an opposing hitter hitting just .179 against her and is set to be the start for UCF against the 2-seed Arizona in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament today.
Just yesterday, Vega was named a unanimous choice for the All-Big 12 Freshmen Team, but did not win either Big 12 Pitcher of the Year or Big 12 Freshman of the Year, both awards that would have been well deserved.
Other finalists for the NFCA 2025 Freshman of Year are as follows:
- Rylee McCoy (Oregon)
- Taylor Shumaker (Florida)
- Ilove'a Brittingham (BYU)
- Alexis DeBoer (Washington)
- Tori Edwards (LSU)
- Addisen Fisher (UCLA)
- Jazzy Francik (FSU)
- Jayden Heavener (LSU)
- Audrey Vandagriff (Alabama)
Vega is one of two Big 12 players selected for this honor and has a real chance at winning the award. The Bradenton native finished the season with the lowest ERA in Big 12 play with a 0.89 ERA in 55.1 innings of work in the regular season. She set a record for the lowest ERA in the regular season in the Big 12.