LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association revealed Ava Ratliff of Bedford North Lawrence High School (Ind.) is the 2023 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year and Abigail Pikas of Pacheco High School (Calif.) captured the New Balance Golden Shoe Award.
Ratliff earns the distinction for the second straight year after being voted the first-team All-America catcher. Over 32 games, Ratliff hit .538, with a state-high 22 home runs, 53 RBI and a .860 slugging percentage. The sophomore recorded 57 base hits and 16 doubles, scored 23 runs and posted a .590 on-base percentage. Her hits, doubles and RBI are new program records. Ratliff, a first-team All-State selection, was stellar defensively, sporting a perfect fielding percentage in 250 chances and throwing out 35 percent (nine) of runners attempting to steal.
Pikas, who earned first-team All-Region (IV) honors at the Utility/Pitcher position, was perfect on the base paths with a Northern California state-record 69 stolen bases (2.56 per game). Setting eight school records during her career at Pacheco, Pikas hit .613 (57-for-93) in her senior season with 17 doubles, 48 runs scored and 20 RBI. The 2023 Western Athletic Conference MVP and Merced Sun-Star Softball Player of the Year first team selection also helped the Panthers with her arm, posting a 13-7 record with a 2.97 ERA and 107 strikeouts over 119.2 innings of work.
The NFCA/Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year is presented to the first-team All-America catcher, which is voted on by member head coaches. To be eligible for the NFCA/New Balance Golden Shoe Award, a student-athlete must have been nominated for All-Region. The winner, voted by member head coaches, came from a list of the top-five most prolific base stealers (strength of schedule and other statistical categories accounted for) amongst those nominated for All-Region.
Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Awards Program, 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.
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