Playa and McKinney Selected as Finalists for National Awards

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Sun Conference has announced its nominees for the 2025-26 NAIA National Awards. Amongst the nominees for these prestigious awards are two members of the Fire softball team.  

Edan Playa has been announced as the nominee for the A.O Duer Scholarship award, and Raylei McKinney for the Dr. Leroy Walker Character Award.

Edan Playa was selected as The Sun Conference's female nominee for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award, one of the NAIA's highest honors recognizing academic excellence, athletic achievement, leadership, and character.

An Elementary Education major with an outstanding 3.98 GPA, Playa has established herself as one of the premier student-athletes in the nation. In the circle, she enters her senior season ranked first in Southeastern history with a career ERA of 1.36 and sits just three victories shy of becoming the winningest pitcher in program history.

Her impact has extended far beyond individual accomplishments. Playa played a pivotal role in leading the Fire to their first-ever appearance in the NAIA Softball World Series Championship, earning recognition as a Third-Team NAIA All-American and a Second-Team NFCA All-American.

Head coach Kayla Watkins praised Playa for both her accomplishments and her influence on the program. "The strength of Edan's moral compass, her second-to-none work ethic, and her ability to lead and influence a group have no doubt impacted our team,"

Joining Playa among the national award finalists is Raylei McKinney, who was selected as The Sun Conference's nominee for the Dr. Leroy Walker Character Award, an honor recognizing exemplary character, leadership, and service.

A Biology–Medical Sciences major with a 3.55 GPA, McKinney paired academic success with one of the nation's top seasons, earning Sun Conference Player of the Year honors and NAIA and NFCA First Team All-America recognition.

Her influence, like Playa's, reaches well beyond the diamond.

McKinney has embraced leadership opportunities through Faith on Fire, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I Am Second, while investing in young athletes through community softball clinics.

Her dedication to faith, service, and positively impacting those around her embodies the qualities the Dr. Leroy Walker Character Award was created to honor.

With both student-athletes earning conference nominations, they will now await the NAIA's final vote on National Awards Day, which will take place on September 15.