Complete All-MIAC Baseball Team
WINONA, Minn. — When the season started, not too many around the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball circle had heard the name
Zach Olberding (Maplewood, Minn.).
Probably because, during his freshman season, Olberding started just seven of the team’s 20 conference contests.
Following his sophomore season, however, “Olberding” is more like a household name.
And, thanks to that .386 conference batting average — and team highs in virtually every offensive category — Olberding earned All-MIAC First-Team honors, it was announced Wednesday.
A sophomore catcher/designated hitter, Olberding started 19 of the team’s 20 league games, not only leading the Cardinals in batting average, but also boasting team highs in hits (22), doubles (5), RBIs (9), total bases (30), and slugging percentage (.526).
For the season, Olberding finished with a team-leading .394 batting average (39-for-99) with 13 runs and team highs in home runs (3) and RBIs (19). Olberding also shared the team lead with 12 multiple-hit games and five multiple-RBI games.
Concordia’s Kyle Johnson was named the MIAC Player of the Year, while Bethel’s Travis Adams earned the conference’s Pitcher of the Year honor. Erik Nelson of St. Olaf was tapped the MIAC Rookie of the Year, and Carleton head coach Aaron Rushing was named the MIAC Coach of the Year.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the third annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for baseball, which included SMU senior
Robbie Johnson (Lake Elmo, Minn.). Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition.