Emma Olejniczak said recently one the biggest surprises she encountered during her first year of playing softball for the University of Northern Iowa was just how often she would pitch.[wpedon id=”82220″ align=”center”]
“I figured I would just be used for an inning here or there, maybe one or two starts, and finish with something like 25-30 innings,” she said. “I had no idea I would throw so many (91-2/3) and was thrilled the coaches had that kind of belief in me.”
Skipper Ryan Jacobs guided the Panthers to a 26-26 overall mark this season, with the team finishing 11-14 in Missouri Valley Conference play. They were eliminated in the MVC tourney by Illinois State.
Olejniczak was 5-8 overall with one save in 28 total appearances, 13 of which were starts. She tossed six complete games, finished with an ERA of 3.36 and allowed opposing batters to hit just .230. She allowed 79 hits, issued 54 walks and struck out 56.
The right-hander fanned 1,235 in a stellar prep career in the ring, but quickly admitted Division I softball was “a whole different universe.”
“I could get away with mistakes in high school, but not now,” she said. “You have to be ready to mentally, and physically, battle on every single pitch. If you make a mistake against these hitters you are going to pay almost every time.”
Olejniczak worked extensively with Panther pitching coach Julie Starbuck and said she has increased her speed to 64-66 mph. While that is good speed, it is not the blazing upper 60’s or low 70’s of the top collegiate hurlers.
“I have to work the ball in-and-out,” she said. “I have a whole new curve ball I have been using and if I am hitting my spots I am OK. There are not going to be many times I can just go out there and blow someone away and I know it.”
Part of the issue is that the slender Olejniczak is 40 pounds or more lighter than some of the bulkier, wide-hipped fireball pitchers.
“That means I have to work on being stronger, because I am just not big like that,” she admitted. “I am working at D-I in Waukee with a personal trainer this summer and am spending three days a week running, for leg strength, and also hot yoga.”
While admitting the workload of a full athletic and full academic schedule feels like “working one-and-a-half jobs” Olejniczak said she would not trade the experience for anything.
“I had so much fun this year, and I know it is only going to get better,” she said. “The work you have to put in is so much more than I think people realize, but the rewards are just that much greater. I love what I am doing and where I am doing it at.”
