LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Over the course of the NFCA’s 2023 collegiate awards season, the Association recognized nine student-athletes as New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe Award recipients. Announced during a division’s All-America or Special Awards release, the distinction is bestowed on the student-athlete who was voted as the top base stealer. 

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 recipients are as follows:

NCAA Division I

Mihyia Davis – University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Davis, a top-25 finalist for TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year, topped NCAA Division I with 52 stolen bases and was second averaging .93 per game. She led Louisiana with a .380 batting average, 70 hits and 22 multi-hit games, while also contributing with 45 runs scored and a .426 on-base percentage over 56 starts. Defensively, Davis was flawless in the outfield, committing zero errors and recording 10 assists.

NCAA Division II

Ashlyn Lerma – Angelo State University 
Lerma, a second-team NFCA Division II All-American and Division II Gold Glove winner at second base, led NCAA Division II with 58 swipes in 54 games to take home the division’s stolen base title. Lerma paced the Rambelles’ offense batting .372 with 61 hits, five doubles, two triples and 47 runs scored. She drew 34 walks and reached base at a .480 clip.

NCAA Division III

Caelee Clark – Texas Lutheran University

Clark, a second-team NFCA All-American, swiped 66 bases in 67 attempts (1st in NCAA), and also led the country in stolen bases per game (1.38) and success rate (.985). She finished with 18 more steals than her nearest competitor. Named a finalist for NFCA DIII Freshman of the Year, Clark finished the season batting .407 with a homer, six doubles, a triple, and 25 RBI, earning SCAC Player of the Year.

NAIA

Chelsea Kurtz – Avila University
Kurtz, who was a second-team at-large All-American as an outfielder, swiped 72 bases in 79 attempts (.911 success rate), which was the second-highest total in NAIA, and broke the school record she set last year. The junior averaged 1.38 steals per game. Kurtz capped off the season by leading the Eagles in hits (59), and runs scored (54), while finishing second in batting average (.373) and third in on-base percentage (.432).

NJCAA Division I

Daija Torchia – Indian River State College
Torchia swiped 70 bases in 75 attempts, ranking tied for second nationally. The sophomore outfielder recorded multiple steals 20 times, including a season-best four versus East Georgia State and three on 10 other occasions. Torchia had a remarkable seven-game stretch early in the season during which she swiped 20 straight bases without being caught. Offensively, she batted .390 with 64 runs scored.

NJCAA Division II

Katy Olive – North Iowa Area Community College
Olive, a freshman shortstop for the Trojans, stole 63 bases in 64 attempts, ranking tied for third nationally. She recorded multiple steals 16 times, including a season-best four against Lake Region State and Iowa Central, while registering a trio of swipes four times. For the season, Olive batted .369 with 14 home runs and 73 runs scored in 49 games.

NJCAA Division III

Grace Vondracek – Corning Community College
Vondracek, the two-time NFCA NJCAA DIII Player of the Year, swiped 43 bags in 48 attempts, ranking her third overall. She batted .609 with an NJCAA DIII-best 95 hits, 91 runs scored, 152 total bases and 38 walks. The sophomore shortstop and two-time NFCA All-American also ranked third nationally in batting average and on-base percentage, along with fifth in slugging (.974), while posting 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 64 RBI.

Cal JC

Elianna Enriquez – Sierra College
Speedy sophomore shortstop Enriquez was the top threat for Sierra (42-3) at the plate and on the basepaths. She led the Wolverines with an CCCAA-best 86 base hits, to go along with a .537 batting average, second-highest in the CCCAA, 55 runs, hits, six doubles, seven triples, a homer, 19 walks and just four strikeouts in 184 plate appearances. Enriquez led all Cal JC players with 44 steals in 47 attempts.

NWAC

Kelci Studioso – Bellevue College

Studioso was the NWAC’s best hitter and baserunner, compiling both a league-best .558 average and 48 steals in 57 attempts. She ranked first in the NWAC in hits (92), at-bats (165) and fewest strikeouts (two) over 190 plate appearances, which includes 19 walks. The NFCA NWAC Player of the Year ranked second in doubles (24), runs (79) and total bases (170), while finishing fourth in triples (six) and on-base percentage (.601). She also had 14 home runs and 59 RBI over 40 games.

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Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe Awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from NFCA podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.

Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of 6,700 coaches today!