LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Over the course of the NFCA’s 2023 collegiate awards season, the Association recognized nine student-athletes as Diamond Sports/NFCA Catchers of the Year. Announced during a division’s All-America or Special Awards release, the distinction is bestowed on the student-athlete, who was voted a first-team All-America catcher.
The NFCA All-America teams are voted on by the Association’s All-America Committees or in the case of NJCAA Division III, Cal JC and NWAC, teams are voted on by the respective membership’s head coaches. The High School recipient will be announced on July 21.
This year’s Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year recipients are as follows:
NCAA Division I
Terra McGowan – University of Oregon
McGowan, a red-shirt senior, launched a team-best 12 home runs and also led the Ducks with 47 runs scored. Named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive team for the second straight season, McGowan threw out a league-high 13 base runners and finished the season with a .996 fielding percentage, making one miscue in 247 attempts.
NCAA Division II
McCall Lee – Mississippi College
Along with being one of the program’s first three NFCA All-Americans, Lee powered a Lady Choctaw offense with a .415 batting average, 76 hits, 19 doubles and 67 RBI, all team bests. She added 15 home runs, 49 runs scored, a .766 slugging percentage and .466 on-base percentage. Behind the plate, she posted a .987 fielding percentage and threw out eight runners attempting to steal.
NCAA Division III
Abby Spore – Luther College
Spore boasted a .987 fielding average with just four errors in 311 defensive chances for the Norse this season. Spore also hit a team-leading .474, with 25 runs, 64 hits, 15 doubles, six home runs, 32 RBI, a .719 slugging average and a .551 on-base percentage.
NAIA
Sydney Pelaez – Georgia Gwinnett College
Pelaez boasted a .988 fielding percentage with just five errors in 432 defensive chances for the Grizzlies this season. Pelaez also hit .438 with 77 hits, 19 walks and 12 steals. She was the team leader in runs (46), doubles (17), home runs (seven), runs batted in (46), times hit by pitch (20), total bases (117), slugging percentage (.665) and OPS (1.195).
NJCAA Division I
Morgan Dutton – Odessa College
Dutton played a critical role in Odessa’s No. 1 overall seed and third-place finish at the NJCAA DI World Series.. The sophomore batted .472 with 17 doubles, 13 home runs , 34 runs scored and 57 RBI. Dutton slugged .936 and struck out just six times in 145 plate appearances. Behind the plate, she was nearly flawless, holding a .995 fielding percentage, committing one error in 222 chances.
NJCAA Division II
Shallen Mershon – Murray State College
Mershon was pivotal in the Aggies’ record-breaking season. The sophomore batted .431 with 21 doubles, 22 home runs and 65 RBI, to go along with a .531 on-base percentage and .976 slugging percentage. Her homers and slugging each ranked 14th nationally. Behind the plate, Mershon threw out 12 runners and recorded a .997 fielding percentage, committing one error in 386 chances.
NJCAA Division III
Maggiemay Murrins – Niagara County Community College
Murrins batted .603 (4th) with a chart-topping 34 doubles and was second-best with 94 RBI and 146 total bases. She also ranked in the top seven with 91 base hits (4th), a .967 slugging percentage (6th) and a .625 on-base percentage (7th). Behind the dish, Murrins posted a .990 fielding percentage and teams only attempted eight stolen bases all season.
Cal JC
Ellison Hazlett – Palomar College
Sophomore Hazlett helped power Palomar’s 3C2A-leading offense (.400 team average) while also shining behind the plate. She batted .404 with 25 runs, six doubles, two triples, 35 RBI, 55 total bases and a .529 slugging percentage. On defense, Hazlett threw out 31 percent of runners attempting to steal and had just one passed ball and two errors all season, leading to a .993 fielding average.
NWAC
Macie Plischke – Walla Walla Community College
Plischke hit .469 with 32 runs, 61 hits, 10 doubles, 10 homers and 59 RBI this season. The sophomore slugged .777 and reached base at .524 clip. Behind the plate, she had a .993 fielding percentage, with just one error in 146 chances for Walla Walla (38-11), which finished second behind North Idaho in the NWAC’s East Region.
About Diamond Sports
Diamond Sports is an official sponsor of the NFCA. Based in Southern California, Diamond Sports designs and manufactures high-quality softball and baseball products for all levels, while striving to inspire participation in softball and baseball with character, integrity, and respect to the game.
Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year Awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
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