LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ten student-athletes have been selected as recipients of the 2016 NFCA Golden Shoe accolade, announced the association on Monday afternoon.

The NFCA Golden Shoe award is presented annually to the player determined to be the most outstanding base stealer from an NFCA member institution in each of the following divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, NWAC and high school.

A committee comprised of elected head coaches in each of the 10 represented divisions selects the winner of their respective award.  This year’s winners of the prestigious honor are as follows:

NCAA Division I

Katie Lacour – Senior – Southeastern Louisiana University
Lacour finished atop NCAA Division I with a school-record 58 stolen bases and was the only player to average at least one steal per game (1.05). A first-team All-Southland Conference selection, the speedy outfielder led the league with a .423 average and 74 hits, while topping the Lions with five triples and also setting a new SLU season standard with 49 runs scored.

NCAA Division II

Kassidy Tally – Senior – Delta State University
After stealing 69 bases in 2016, Tally (pictured) finished her career with the third highest total in NCAA Division II history with 230. A first-team All-Gulf South and second-team NFCA All-South Region selection, Tally, on March 11 became just the sixth player in any division in the history of NCAA softball to reach the illustrious 200-career steal milestone. On the year, Tally led Delta State with 56 runs and was second on the squad with a .375 average and 72 hits.

NCAA Division III

Courtney Bogan – Senior – Virginia Wesleyan College

A two-time NFCA first-team All-American, Bogan set a NCAA Division III record with 70 stolen bases in 73 attempts. Accomplishing the feat in just 45 games, Bogan, who was selected first team VaSID all-state, averaged 1.56 thefts per contest and finished her collegiate career with 173, tops in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s (ODAC) annals. She hit .417 with a ODAC-best 57 runs scored and was also recognized for her work in the classroom being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ® third team.

NAIA

Kayleen Smith – Junior – Southern Oregon University
Smith, in her first season with the Raiders, registered a Cascade Collegiate Conference-record 45 stolen bases in 48 attempts, which ranked fourth in the NAIA. She batted .384 with 13 extra-base hits, 39 runs scored and 38 RBI. The NFCA All-West region selection also had a keen eye at the plate, striking out just twice in 194 plate appearances.

NJCAA Division I

Mariah Wise – Sophomore – College of Central Florida
Wise, a first-team NFCA All-American, was nearly perfect, recording 67 thefts in 68 attempts, good for second in NJCAA DI. Helping the Patriots to a No. 1 seed at the NJCAA DI national tournament, the sophomore recorded 97 hits, posted a .471 batting average, while leading her squad with 10 triples and 91 runs scored, ranking fourth a fifth overall in NJCAA DI. 

NJCAA Division II

Kendall Cornick – Freshman – North Iowa Area CC
A first-team NFCA NJCAA Division II All-American, Cornick was the top base stealer in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) and second in NJCAA DII with 65. The rookie centerfielder also hit .561 with six doubles, three triples and scored 55 runs.  

NJCAA Division III

Marjorie Sloan – Freshman – College of DuPage
Sloan ranked second in NJCAA Division III with 37 stolen bases. She hit .392 with a team-best 64 runs scored, six triples and 24 walks. In addition, Sloan roped 16 doubles, recorded 74 hits and knocked in 26 runs.

Cal JC

Kayla Sok – Freshman – Mt. San Antonio College
Sok was nearly perfect on the base paths as she swiped 43 bases in 44 attempts during her first season of collegiate softball. Ranked second overall in the California Community Colleges Athletic Association (CCCAA), the rookie shortstop played a key role in helping Mt. San Antonio College post 40 wins, claim a South Coast Conference title and reach the CCCAA state final four.

NWAC

Nicole Bolasky – Sophomore – Lower Columbia College

Bolasky stole 69 bases, more than double her nearest competitor, to run away with the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) stolen base crown. An NFCA All-American, Bolasky averaged 1.47 thefts per game, while batting .473 with a 64 runs scored and a NWAC-best 88 hits.

High School

Nicky Dawson – Senior – Parkview Baptist High School (La.)
Dawson, a NFCA First-Team All-American shortstop, was a perfect 58-for-58 on the base paths. The LSU signee garnered several player of the year awards, including the Marruci Player of the Year plaudit. Dawson hit .658 with 73 hits, 15 doubles, eight triples, 65 runs and a .743 on-base percentage.

— Image courtesy of Delta State Athletic Communications