Trio of Tigers Selected to Softball America’s Freshman Watch List
1/14/2025 9:29:00 AM | Softball
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri softball players Madison Uptegrove, Saniya Hill and Nevaeh Watkins were all named to the 2025 Softball America Freshman Watch List, the organization announced Tuesday morning.
For Uptegrove and Hill, it marks their second career preseason lists as the duo was previously listed on D1Softball's Freshman Watch List on Jan. 8. It marks the first career preseason accolade for Watkins.
Missouri was most recently ranked No. 15 in Softball America's preseason top-25 list.
Uptegrove, a 5-5 infielder and outfielder, earned 2023 NFCA First Team All-Region and 2023 MHSFCA (Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association) First Team All-State honors at Father Tolton Catholic High School.
The Columbia, Missouri, native, is a two-time conference player of the year as well as a four-time all-district, all-region, and all-state selection.
Uptegrove knocked a Missouri state record 48 home runs over her high school career.
Uptegrove also hit .528 batting average with 192 RBI, 211 hits and 188 runs (second in Missouri) to rewrite the Father Tolton record book. Uptegrove holds the top spot for batting average, hits, runs, doubles (63), triples (17), home runs, RBI and total bases (452, second in Missouri).
She competed for Select Fastpitch in Kansas City, where she batted .338 with four home runs, 18 RBIs, 21 runs and 11 stolen bases.
Hill, a 5-7 third base and utility player, holds the all-time batting average (.457) for Godley High School. She was also the 19th ranked player in the 2024 class, according to Extra Innings.
The Godley, Texas, native, was named a 2023 USA Softball High Performance Program (HPP) Top Performer and was selected to the U.S. Junior Women's National Team U-17/18 roster.
Hill is a two-time second-team all-conference selection and was named to the first team as a sophomore.
She was also included on the 2023 Alliance FastPitch Early Watch List for juniors on the rise.
Hill competed for the Texas Glory softball club, which was ranked fifth in the nation. Hill batted .487 over the 2023 club season.
Watkins, a 5-2 center fielder, came to Missouri after earning 9-6A First-Team All-District and 9-6A Defensive Player of the Year at Sachse High School.
The Rowlett, Texas, native, was also named to the 2023 DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) Fastpitch All-Metro Plex First Team and the 2023 Star Local Media All-Area First Team. She hit .535 batting average with 145 hits and 88 stolen bases this past campaign.
With the Texas Glory club team, Watkins was listed on the 2024 Alliance FastPitch Early Watch List for Juniors on the Rise. She helped Texas Glory finish fifth at the 2023 Alliance Tier 1 Tournament.
NEXT UP
- Mizzou will open its 2025 campaign at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, Feb. 7 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex against Marshall and Northwestern.
2025 SEASON TICKETS
- General admission BERM season tickets are currently on sale at mutigers.com/SBtix
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
- For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouSoftball (X, Instagram, Facebook).
