HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana senior outfielder
Katie Lacour's base running success netted her the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Golden Shoe Award, the NFCA announced on Monday.
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 (Division I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, NWAC and high school.
Lacour is the first Lady Lion to win the award, as her skill set benefitted from the philosophy of aggression on the base paths employed by first-year SLU head coach
Rick Fremin. Lacour is the third student-athlete to earn the Golden Shoe Award under Fremin's tutelage.
Lacour received the honor after leading Division I with a single-season school record 58 stolen bases and finishing the season as the only player in the nation to average more than a steal per game (1.05). The first three-time first-team all-conference performer in school history, Lacour helped Southeastern lead the nation and set a new single-season school record with 172 stolen bases.
The Port St. Joe, Florida native's senior season also saw her lead the team with a .423 batting average, 74 hits and 49 runs scored. The national Golden Shoe Award was a fitting close to a remarkable Lady Lion career that saw Lacour set school records with 277 hits, 148 runs scored and 70 stolen bases, while also finishing as the Southland career leader with a .425 batting average.
A committee comprised of elected head coaches in each of the 10 represented divisions selects the award winners.
2016 NFCA Golden Shoe Award Winners
NCAA Division I – Katie Lacour – Southeastern Louisiana
NCAA Division II – Kassidy Tally – Delta State
NCAA Division III – Courtney Bogan – Virginia Wesleyan
NAIA – Kaylean Smith – Southern Oregon
NJCAA Division I – Mariah Wise – College of Central Florida
NJCAA Division II – Kendall Cornick – North Iowa Area CC
NJCAA Division III – Marjorie Sloan – College of DuPage
Cal JC – Kayla Sok – Mt. San Antonio College
NWAC – Nicole Bolasky – Lower Columbia
High School – Nicky Dawson – Parkview Baptist (La.)
