Aug. 28, 2008

Missouri softball player Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) was named the recipient of the adidas Golden Shoe award as announced today by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The award, presented annually to the nation's top base runner, recognizes student-athletes from NFCA member schools in each of the following nine divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC and NWAACC.

As a freshman on Missouri's NCAA Regional Champion team, Taylor led the squad with a .402 batting average and set a Big 12 Conference and Missouri single season stolen bases record at 57. Taylor also set school records in at bats (219), runs scored (64) and hits (88). For her work, Taylor earned second team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America honors and was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Taylor and the Tigers will play six games this fall, beginning with North Central Community College Saturday, Sept. 27 at Noon. Missouri will host Meramec that same day beginning at 2 p.m. (CT) on University Field.