LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the student-athletes chosen for this season’s quartet of NFCA NJCAA Division III major awards.
National runner-up North Dakota State College of Science’s Avery Martin was tabbed the TUCCI/NFCA NJCAA Division III Player of the Year, while also being named the Diamond Sports/NFCA NJCAA DIII Catcher of the Year. Martin’s batterymate Grace Folkema was voted the TUCCI/NFCA NJCAA DIII Pitcher of the Year. Laila Rodriguez from the first-time national champion Patrick & Henry Community College earned the New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe plaudit. The trio of awardees were named 2024 NFCA NJCAA DIII All-Americans.
Martin, who batted .457, was the top offensive threat in NJCAA DIII leading the division in hits (100), home runs (20), RBI (94), total bases (199), runs (77) and doubles (31), while finishing eighth in slugging (.909). The NJCAA DIII National Tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player also compiled a .992 fielding percentage on the year. Martin topped NJCAA DIII in RBI.
Freshman hurler Folkema is the second straight Wildcat to be recognized with this accolade. going 27-6 in the circle with nine complete games, seven saves and six shutouts across 60 appearances. She fanned 408 batters and walked 124 over 211.1 innings, limiting opposing hitters to a .181 average. Folkema outpaced her nearest competitor for the strikeout crown by 137 punchouts and ranked second in shutouts, wins and strikeouts per seven innings (13.51).
Rodriguez played a pivotal role in the Patriots’ first national title for any Patrick & Henry athletic program. The Golden Shoe winner swiped an NJCAA DIII-best 63 bases, 19 more than her nearest competitor. Rodriguez stole five bases in game two of a doubleheader against Camp and recorded four steals three times and three four more times. She topped the team with a .486 average, 65 runs, 28 walks and a .559 on-base percentage.
The Player and Pitcher of the Year, along with the Golden Shoe, are nominated and voted on by the full NJCAA DIII head coaching membership. The Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year is awarded to the first-team All-America catcher.
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