The freshman pitcher for the Indiana Hoosier’s softball team caught the magazine’s attention with her performance at the plate as well as on the mound during the weekend of April 26-28.
In the first game of the weekend against the University of Illinois, Sara (top photo) hit a walk-off grand slam, her first career home run, giving the Hoosiers a 6-3 win. Her sister, senior first basemen Anna Olson (lower photo), set up the shot with a two-run single earlier in the inning.
The next day, Sara delivered a two-run single in the seventh inning as the Hoosiers rallied from a five-run deficit to force extra innings. Again, Anna also played a crucial role, as she crushed a three-run homer to tie the game in the top half of the seventh.
In the doubleheader on Sunday against Iowa, Sara played a key role in sweeping the Hawkeyes. In game one, she was a one-person wrecking crew, crushing a three-run home run to provide the offense and tossing a complete game to earn a 3-2 victory.
In game two, Sara earned her first save of the season when she was brought into the seventh inning to protect a 3-2 lead. The freshman promptly retired the Hawkeyes in order to earn her first career save and keep the Hoosiers in contention for the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
Prior to the tournament last month, Anna was named the Indiana recipient of the Sportsmanship Award from the Big Ten Conference. The student-athletes chosen for the award are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The student-athletes also must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports setting.
The athletes are natives of Orland Park, Illinois, and attend Southwest Covenant Church in Homer Glen, Illinois. Their parents are Jeff and Annette Olson. The family attended Trinity Covenant Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois, before moving.
The girls are not the only members of the family – or Southwest Covenant – to earn collegiate athletic honors this year. Their cousin, David Reynolds, recently made the All-Mid America Conference tournament team for Northern Illinois University as a first baseman. Reynolds is the son of James and Lori Reynolds, who also attend Southwest Covenant. All of the parents attended North Park University.
To read a previously published online new story about Sara and David, see Cousins.
