ORLAND PARK, IL (August 14, 2006) – Covenanters David Reynolds and Sara Olson have a lot in common. They’re cousins, and both go to the same church and the same school. They’ve both made a name for themselves as student athletes at Sandburg High School in Chicago’s South suburbs.
Olson, who will be a senior this year, was named Softball Player of the Year by her local newspaper, The Star. She was also named Second Team All-State in softball. Reynolds, who graduated from Sandburg this year, was named to the All Area team and honored by the Chicago Tribune.Olson earned honors for her performance on the mound and in the batter’s box. She shut down other teams with a 1.00 ERA and 202 strikeouts. Olson also set a school single-season record of 57 hits, led the team with 32 RBI, and swung for a .435 batting average.
A single swing at the plate highlighted the performances given by Olson throughout the year. With her team trailing 2-0 in the super-sectionals, Olson slammed a sixth-inning home run that brought the Sandburg Eagles within a run of Lincoln-Way East. Having feared their season might be over, the Eagles rebounded minutes later to win 3-2.
The team lost its state semi-final contest two games later, but finished third in the tournament. Coach Jim Fabianski, told The Star that the one homer was indicative of what Olson meant to the team. “When she jacked that home, it seemed like everybody knew that things would be all right. Sara always seems to produce at the right time.”
Olson already has said she will attend Indiana University, where she will play alongside her sister, Anna.
The Chicago Tribune named Reynolds as one of the top players in the area. During the regular season, the left-hander led Sandburg with a .417 batting average, scored 44 runs and knocked in 36. He lived up to the newspaper’s prediction prior to the season, when it named him one of the players to watch.
Reynolds plays first base but his coach also has called him the ace of the pitching staff. He finished 8-1 with a staggering 0.59 ERA. In 59 innings, he allowed only 31 hits, 16 walks and struck out 63.
A contributor to a web blog on high school baseball summed up the athlete’s talent on the diamond: “Reynolds can flat out play.”
Reynolds is bound for Northern Illinois University.
Reynolds and Olson attended Trinity Covenant Church in Oak Lawn before their families moved and now attend Southwest Covenant Church in Homer Glen.
Olson is the daughter of Jeff Olson and Annette Olson. Reynolds is the son of James Reynolds and Lori Reynolds. All of the parents attended North Park University.
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