LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its Gold Glove and Shoe awards with three Titans earning recognition, announced on Wednesday.
The NFCA recognized student-athletes across the NCAA as New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe Award recipients. Announced during a division’s All-America or Special Awards release, the distinction is bestowed on the student-athlete who was voted as the top base stealer.
Senior outfielder Megan Delgadillo was announced as the Division I 2024 New Balance/ NFCA Golden Shoe Award recipient on Wednesday. The outfielder is the first student-athlete in Big West and Cal State Fullerton history to secure the award since its inception in 2005.
This season as an NFCA All-West Region recipient, Delgadillo rewrote the conference record book by becoming the all-time stolen base leader in Big West history with 151 total steals. The Riverside, Calif. native broke the record when recording the 122nd steal of the season back on March 7th. During the regular season, Delgadillo went a perfect 23-for-23 in stolen base attempts this season.
The Titans record book also saw Delgadillo take the all-time lead in total runs with 172 scored, surpassing former Titan and current assistant coach Gina Oaks Garcia (150 R).
Delgadillo also set a career best in hits (86) while pacing the Titans in runs (49) and slugging percentage (.515).
Senior infielder Peyton Toto and freshman outfielder Kate Verhoerf were named two of nine student athletes to claim the 2024 NCAA Division I Rawlings Gold Glove Award, which honors the top defensive players across the nation. The Titan duo is both the first in Big West history to earn the honor.
Recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, presented by the NFCA, were selected by the NFCA’s NCAA Division I All-America Committee, following regional voting to identify the finalists at each position. The group 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.
Toto’s triumphant season saw the first basemen set a new career high in putouts with 368 paired with seven assists. Toto led the league in double plays by turning in 17 and ranked overall in The Big West with a nearly perfect fielding percentage (0.997).
Verhoef was honored as the first freshman in Rawlings Gold Glove Award history. The first year was flawless by not committing an error this season alongside 53 putouts and five assists in 50 starts.