Posted: Sep 28, 2023

Two Chukars Earn 2023 Gold Glove Awards

[Louisville, KY] - After a stellar season for Treasure Valley Community College Softball, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the recipients of the 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Each year, nine recipients are chosen from each of the following divisions: NCAA D1, NCAA D2, NCAA D3, NAIA, NJCAA D1, NJCAA D2, NJCAA D3, California JC, and NWAC. For the award winners in the NWAC division, two of the nine recipients played for Treasure Valley Community College.

Redshirt freshman Madison Van Sickle won the Gold Glove for the shortstop position, after being forced out of her true freshman season with a shoulder injury. Van Sickle ended the year with a .912 fielding percentage, with 137 chances and only 12 errors. In addition to her defensive performance, she led the Chukars in batting average, and was 5^th in the NWAC with a .514%. She finished the season with 13 home runs, also leading her team. Van Sickle recorded 69 runs batted in, leading her team and ranking 8^th in the NWAC. Van Sickle was an integral part of her team's success, where they finished 4^th in the East Region and 9^th in the NWAC RPI rankings. Van Sickle was also a 1^st Team All Region Infielder. The Pocatello, ID native will be returning for the 2023-24 season as a medical redshirt sophomore.

True freshman Leia Jenkins, from West Valley City, UT was another major player for the Chukars last season, and she was awarded the Gold Glove for the position of centerfielder. Jenkins finished the season with a .972 fielding percentage, with 107 chances and only 3 errors. In addition to being a 1^st Team All Region Outfielder, Jenkins ranked 4^th in the NWAC in stolen bases on the season with 34. She led her teams in total runs on the season with 66, third on the team with 65 hits, and third on the team with triples, recording 3. Jenkins will be returning to the Chukars for her sophomore year, where they look to build on last season's success of finishing in the top 10 of RPI rankings.

To find the complete article and other award information, you can follow this link. There is also a video that was put together that honors the nine recipients that can be found here.