Central’s Fritz among all-conference softball headliners
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA—Central College pitcher Mariah Fritz (senior, Tama, East Marshall HS) was named co-pitcher of the year as the American Rivers all-conference softball team was revealed Wednesday.
Fritz recorded all 12 of Central’s league victories in helping the Dutch capture their 13th conference title. She posted a 12-3 league mark with a 3.62 earned run average, 50 walks and 38 strikeouts in 87 innings. She shares the award with Alyssa Olson of Coe College and Maddie Rog of Wartburg College. Fritz is the 15th Central player to win league player of the year honors. From 1983 to 2006, an MVP winner was named. The award has since been divided into player of the year and pitcher of the year.
Fritz is among six Central players honored, including four receiving first-team recognition. Shortstop Daria Parchert (sophomore, Illinois City, Ill., Rockridge HS), junior center fielder Sara Tallman (Pella) and junior left fielder Shaye Witte (West Des Moines, Waukee HS) were also first-team picks.
Meanwhile, junior second baseman Kaitlyn Andresen (Davenport, Assumption HS) and senior right fielder Sadie Baugher (Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS) received second-team honors.
Central coach George Wares and associate head coach Alicia O’Brien and their staff received the coaching staff of the year award. They’re assisted by Keith Jones, Marcy Roff and John Edwards. Wares is the winningest coach in Division III history with a 1,151-392-3 mark over 35 seasons. O’Brien topped the 800-win mark earlier this year and is 821-359-3 in 30 years, including 18 as head coach at Western Connecticut State University.
Fritz has compiled an overall record of 19-7 with a 3.45 ERA. She was named the league’s pitcher of the week this week after two complete-game victories over the University of Dubuque and Coe to win the conference tournament crown Saturday.
Parchert was the league’s top hitter in conference games with a .522 mark. She had a league-best 10 doubles with two homers and drove in 14 runs. She had a .947 fielding mark and was in on five double plays. Parchert was a second-team pick last year.
Tallman was a first-team pick for the third time. She batted .380 in league action with 17 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.
Witte hit .400 in the conference with five doubles, 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Andresen batted .391 with three doubles, a homer and eight RBIs in gaining second-team recognition for the second time.
Baugher, in her first year as a starter, hit .400 in conference action with two home runs, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored along with 11 stolen bases.
It’s the ninth time that Wares has received league coaching honors. The award changed from coach of the year to coaching staff of the year this season.
Central’s league tournament title gave the Dutch an automatic berth in the 62-team NCAA Division III tournament. Central plays host to the four-team Pella, Iowa Regional Friday through Sunday. The Dutch open the double-elimination tourney Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Lake Forest College (Ill.).
