Chelsea Zang Earns Third-Team All-Central Region Honors

Chelsea Zang posted a 1.68 ERA in her first year pitching for the Tigers.
Chelsea Zang posted a 1.68 ERA in her first year pitching for the Tigers.

Springfield, Ohio – Freshman pitcher Chelsea Zang (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) has continued to rack up the awards following her inaugural collegiate season, earning third-team All-Central Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). 

Zang did it all for the Tigers, who finished with records of 20-17 overall and 11-5 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), good for second place in the final regular season standings. Wittenberg advanced to the NCAC Tournament for the third straight year under Head Coach Laura Matthews, thanks largely to Zang’s work in the pitcher’s circle and in the batter’s box. 

With her arm, Zang assumed the mantle of the Tigers’ No. 1 pitcher. For the season, she posted a 1.68 earned run average, a 12-7 record, and 79 strikeouts in 149.2 innings, all of which rank in the top 10 in program history. 

Her bat was just as important for the Tigers, who were riddled with injuries throughout the 2015 season. Zang, who earned first-team All-NCAC honors and was named the league’s Newcomer of the Year, batted .326 with four home runs and 17 runs batted in, all of which ranked in the top four on the team. 

“Chelsea worked so hard prior to the season, and it paid off with a tremendous performance both pitching and at the plate,” said Matthews, who has a career coaching record of 67-41 in three seasons at Wittenberg. “I am proud of her achievement, and I look forward to working with her to accomplish even more over the next three years.”

Written By: Ryan Maurer