Olson headlines Dutch all-Iowa Conference softball selections

Central College

PELLA — Becoming the second Central College softball player to earn the Iowa Conference Pitcher of the Year Award, Karly Olson (senior, Winterset) leads a trio of Dutch players earning all-conference recognition.

Olson is joined on the first team by freshman center fielder Sara Tallman (Pella). Second baseman Paige Dickel (junior, Norwalk) was picked for the second team.

While Olson is the second player to each Pitcher of the Year honors, Central has had six other pitchers earn league Most Valuable Player honors. The MVP award was split into the Pitcher of the Year and Position Player of the Year Award in 2009.

Olson led the league in ERA (0.66), strikeouts (46) and opponent batting average (.145). Her 8-2 record in conference games helped the Dutch to a runner-up finish in the regular season. She pitched five complete game shutouts, totaling 63.1 innings of work in 12 appearances.

Tallman led the team with a .434 batting average in 16 league games. She had 23 hits and crossed the plate a team-high nine times. In the field, she maintained a 1.000% fielding percentage and tallied 24 putouts. She also led the team with six doubles and eight stolen bases.

Dickel hit .302 with a .465 slugging percentage in 16 league games, courtesy of four doubles and a home run. She drove in five runs and had a .960 fielding percentage as the team’s primary second baseman.

Pitcher Mariah Fritz (sophomore, Tama, East Marshall HS) received an honorable mention nod. Fritz was 4-1 with a 1.67 ERA in nine conference appearances. She struck out 17 in 37.2 innings.

Central finished the regular season at 32-8 and 13-3 in conference play. They are hosting a four-team NCAA Regional this weekend, starting with a 3:30 p.m. contest against the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) Friday.