LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Ava Ratliff of Bedford North Lawrence High School (Ind.) was tabbed Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year and Chelsea Mack of Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School (Ohio) captured the New Balance Golden Shoe Award.
Ratliff, who earns the distinction after being voted the first-team All-America catcher, batted .538, with 21 home runs, 53 RBI and a 1.344 slugging percentage. She recorded 50 base hits and 10 doubles, scored 22 runs, walked 17 times and posted a .607 on-base percentage. Ratliff, a first-team All-State selection, was stellar defensively, sporting a perfect fielding percentage in 277 chances during her freshman year on the field.
Diamond Catcher of the Archives
Mack, who earned first-team All-America honors in the outfield, set an Ohio High School state record with 81 stolen bases in 83 attempts. Capturing the OHSAA Division I batting title, Mack hit an eye-popping .726 with 77 base knocks in 106 at bats. The two-time NFCA All-American and three-time All-State honoree registered 13 doubles, a triple and two long balls, scored 57 times (tops in Division I), knocked in 32 runs and posted a 1.650 OPS.
New Balance Golden Shoe Archives
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.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded student-athlete awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention.
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