A record four Central College baseball players received first-team all-Iowa Conference honors Wednesday while Joel Pulliam was named the league’s pitcher of the year and Adam Stevens was cited as the coach of the year.  Pulliam, shortstop Mike Furlong, outfielder Sam Stetzel and pitcher Dirk Lindaman were all first-team selections. Pitcher Judson McKown was a second-team pick.  

Stevens piloted the Dutch to a school record 29 wins and their first outright league championship in 64 years by a four-game margin with a 19-5 mark. Stevens received coach of the year honors for the second time after sharing the honor in 2005. He guided Central to share of the league crown in 2006.  

Pulliam was cited for the third straight year, but it’s his debut on the first team after being a second-team selection in 2010 and 2011. He posted an 8-1 record with a 2.79 earned run average, walking 26 batters and striking out 77. He became Central’s career strikeouts leader with 226 and holds the top two season marks after striking out 85 batters in 2011. Pulliam also set the career shutout record (5) and ranks second in wins (21) and ERA (3.25).  

Furlong was tabbed for the fourth time. He’s a three-time first-team pick. Furlong batted .287 with a team-high 11 doubles and four home runs. He also led the Dutch with 30 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Furlong started every game over the past four years and set nine career records, including most hits, runs scored and stolen bases.  

Stetzel, a second-team choice in 2011, batted a team-high .387 with 23 RBI and eight stolen bases. He committed just one error on the year and had a .987 fielding percentage.  

Lindaman compiled a 6-1 mark on the mound. He recorded a 1.79 ERA, walking 16 batters and striking out 37. He threw two complete games and had one shutout.  

McKown led the pitching staff with a 1.20 ERA. He was 6-2 in 45 innings and had three saves. He struck out 25 and walked 10.  

Lindaman, McKown and Pulliam were part of the pitching staff that set season records for lowest ERA (2.43) and most shutouts (6).  

Central closed the year with a 29-11 overall record.