After three years of Bluejay softball, senior Tara Oltman is already the most decorated player in Creighton softball history.
She is the only three-time all-American in the softball program’s history. Her 135 pitching appearances, 102 starts and 93 complete games are all school records, and she is expected to break the strikeouts and innings-pitched records midway through the 2010 season.
But she’s not only part of the Creighton record books. As the only three-time MVC Pitcher of the Year, it is only fitting that she is in the top 15 in the Valley’s history in six pitching categories.
Now a senior, she begins the season on USA Softball’s National Collegiate Player of the Year watch list, as well one of the 30 candidates in the nation named to the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award, which recognizes athletes who excel in the areas of competition, community, classroom and character. (Not to mention she is an English major with a co-major in secondary education and also is in charge of Creighton’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes.)
On top of these honors and accomplishments, she maintains that achieving the team’s goals for her final season is just as important.
“One goal is to win the MVC regular season for the fourth straight season, but more importantly, we want to win the MVC tournament in order to ensure that we have a chance to achieve our goal of advancing deep into the postseason,” she said.
The Jays softball team will start their season on Thursday when they head to Tempe, Ariz. to play six games, in three days, in the Kajikawa Classic. This tournament is full of competitive teams, which could be a good early-season test for the Bluejays. They will then play San Diego State on Thursday, before playing Notre Dame and Oregon on Friday. The Bluejays will close the tournament with three games on Saturday, facing Wisconsin, Oregon State and the nation’s 15th ranked Northwestern Wildcats.
“This season, my goal is to have the best season I have had yet at Creighton, and I want to do whatever I can to help the team achieve our goals,” she said.
Having her best season yet isn’t unrealistic, even though her previous three seasons have been record-breaking. Each year, she has lowered her ERA and batting average against numbers, which is no easy feat. To do this, she worked in the offseason to become a more versatile pitcher.
“I have improved several of my pitches, including my curve, outside rise and inside changeup, which will hopefully allow me to keep hitters more off-balance,” Oltman said.
Her pitching isn’t all that she brings to the mound for the Jays, however. Her leadership role is vital to the team’s performance.
“My role is to be a leader and an encourager and a player who helps teammates maintain composure in tough situations,” she said.
While fans and the media have taken note of her pitching on the mound, her teammates have taken note of her, both off and on the field. Off the field, fellow All-MVC teammate Renae Sinkler says that she is an even better person than she is a player.
“She is very studious, and she is a great friend. She is a good listener and will always be there,” Sinkler said.
Sinkler describes her as someone who “has a very ‘go at them’ mentality. She is a strong individual and is never satisfied with a sub-par effort. She strives for perfection.”
Oltman is focused on the future instead of her accomplishments.
“In order to accomplish our goals, we will need to be better in every game than the one before. We will need to be focused and successful in handling adversity,” she said.
It appears that Oltman is aware of the challenges this season will bring. After barely missing out on last year’s NCAA tournament the team is ready to give it another run. Oltman is also ready to defend the MVC season title for the fourth straight year.
“Since we have again been rated pre-season number one in the Valley, it will be a challenge to defend our title,” Oltman said.
That’s a challenge she said she’s happy to take on one last time as a Bluejay.