Kayden Craft Named to Rawlings, NFCA Gold Glove Team
CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7898 or (518) 416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, June 4, 2024
NFCA reveals 2024 NJCAA Rawlings Gold Glove recipients
Hudson Valley Community College softball student-athlete, Kayden Craft, was recognized for her outstanding defense on Tuesday afternoon by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Craft was voted as one of 27 recipients of the 2024 NJCAA Division III Rawlings Gold Glove Award ®, presented by NFCA.
Craft had a tremendous freshman season with the Vikings as she finished the year with a .411 batting average and tallied a team-best 39 hits. Over the 95-at bats, Craft drove in 22 runs and scored a team-high 35 runs and added seven stolen bases with 48 total bases. Craft handled the right field assignment all season and recorded 23 putouts with only one error for a .964 fielding percentage.
Seventeen programs were represented in total with seven programs earning multiple Gold Glove honors. Taking home multiple honors in Division I were McLennan Community (3) and Northwest Florida State College (2), while Jones College (2) and Kirkwood Community College (2) topped Division II and Caldwell Community College & Technical School (2), Corning Community College (3) and North Dakota State College of Science (3) paced Division III.
Collecting honors in the infield were:
NJCAA DI – Trinity Allen, McLennan CC (1B); Addison Wittram, Trinity Valley CC (2B); Bailey Ast, Crowder (3B); Katia Reyes, McLennan CC (SS)
NJCAA DII – Emma Krueger, Rock Valley (1B); Avery Skiceri, Frederick CC (2B); Madelyn Savage, Northeast Mississippi CC (3B); Rachael Schlotter, Kirkwood CC (SS)
NJCAA DIII – Lily Reed, North Dakota SCS (1B); Lily Callahan, Corning CC (2B); Kendyl Moss, North Dakota SCS (3B); Brianna Greenlaw, Corning CC (SS)
Earning recognition in the outfield were:
NJCAA DI – Mickayla Tosch, McLennan CC (LF); Jenna Borkey, Eastern Florida State (CF); Presley Smith, Indian River State (RF)
NJCAA DII – Elise Jackson, Jones (LF); Madison Moak, Copiah-Lincoln CC (CF); Makynlie Jones, Jones (RF)
NJCAA DIII – Skyler Banks, CCC&TI (LF); Sydney Ferguson, CCC&TI (CF); Kayden Craft, Hudson Valley CC (RF)
Making up the battery across the divisions were:
NJCAA DI – Cailyn Heyl, Northwest Florida State (P); Autumn Vessler, Northwest Florida State (C)
NJCAA DII – Sailor Hall, Kirkwood CC (P); Lexie Griffin, Parkland (C)
NJCAA DIII – Jenna Plue, Corning CC (P); Avery Martin, North Dakota SCS (C)
Recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, presented by the NFCA, were selected by the NFCA's NJCAA Division I & II All-America Committees, following regional voting to identify the finalists at each position. In NJCAA Division III, the head coach membership voted for the winners. The groups utilized fielding statistics and school-submitted video to closely examine finalists and select the winners at every defensive position. Any student-athlete that competed in the current championship year and was nominated by their head coach who is a member in good standing with the NFCA was eligible for consideration for this prestigious accolade.
About Rawlings
Established in 1887, Rawlings is an innovative leading global brand and manufacturer of premium baseball and softball equipment, including gloves, balls, and protective headwear. Rawlings' unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings.
Rawlings is the Official Baseball, Helmet, Face Guard and Glove of Major League Baseball, the Official Baseball of Minor League Baseball and the Official Baseball and Softball of the NCAA and the NAIA. The company is headquartered in St. Louis. For more information, please visit www.Rawlings.com.
About National Fastpitch Coaches Association
Established in 1983, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professional growth organization of over 7,000 members for fastpitch softball coaches from all competitive levels of play, along with umpires, clubs, businesses and fans of fastpitch softball.
Education, events and awards are the pillars of the organization, highlighted by the annual National Convention, regional Coaches Clinics, All-America teams, Leadoff Classic tournaments and student-athlete camps. With a robust awards program, members are also recognized for their on-and-off-the field contributions, while their student-athletes are honored for their academics and prowess on the field
Headquartered in Louisville, Ky., the national office is the home base of 12 employees, 19 Board members and seasonal interns.