When the Central softball team announced its team awards, a local alumnus was given the highest honor on the team. Senior centerfielder Sara Tallman of Pella has been named the team’s Most Valuable Player for the shortened 2020 season.

Tallman was a leader in many ways for the Dutch during the seven-game campaign. Along with her outfield leadership role, she led the Dutch in many statistical categories. She was tops on the team with her .455 batting average, while carrying an on-base percentage of .500. She led the team with 10 hits on the season, and was a perfect 6-6 in stolen base attempts. Along with her offensive abilities, Tallman committed no fielding errors and had a fielding percentage of .1000.

Tallman is planning to use the extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA in response to the majority of the season being cancelled due to COVID-19. Tallman’s presence will bolster the lineup for a Central team that is expected to be a national power. Central finished 6-1 in 2020.