Yotes' Heather Dixon, Jody Zillner Earn Top CCC Softball Honors

5/6/2009 10:40:36 AM

PORTLAND, Ore. – College of Idaho pitcher Jody Zillner and first baseman Heather Dixon have been named Pitcher and Player of the Year, respectively, by a vote of the Cascade Collegiate Conference softball coaches, the league office announced.

Zillner, a junior from Emmett, Idaho and a five-time CCC Pitcher of the Week, posted a 20-7 record and 1.36 ERA in leading the Coyotes to the CCC’s regular season title and berth in the NAIA Championships. She set a school record for wins and tied a school mark for shutouts (6). She had 15 starts in which she allowed four or fewer hits, and 17 starts with seven or more strikeouts. She also posted victories over NCAA Division I foes Idaho State and Boise State, and takes a streak of 12 consecutive winning decisions into the national tournament. She follows in the footsteps of her older sister, Katie, who was named the CCC’s Pitcher of the Year while at College of Idaho last season.

Dixon, a senior from Boise, batted .338 and led the league with a CCC record 17 homers and a school record 44 runs batted in. A two-time CCC Player of the Week, she had 13 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI games. She had walk-off home runs in wins over Boise State and Simpson during the season.

The Newcomer of the Year award was earned by Southern Oregon’s Strohm Fouty, a transfer from Grand Canyon College who batted .458 and led the league in hits (54), doubles (tied, 12) and stolen bases (43 of 46). Fouty set school marks for stolen bases and on-base percentage (.519).

Southern Oregon’s Kim Fritts, who guided the Raiders to a runner-up finish (18-6) in the CCC and an overall record of 22-15, was named the CCC’s Coach of the Year. Fritts, who is in her third season at SOU, led the Raiders to their first 20-win season since 2006, and SOU’s 18 wins are the third-most in school history.

Northwest Christian earned the Champions of Character Award, which is based on the NAIA’s core tenets of character, integrity and sportsmanship.

Honorable Mention:
Brittany Warren, OF, Oregon Tech; Jenny Austin, SS, Oregon Tech, Becca Gawlista, OF, Concordia; Jennifer Kollaer, Corban; Amy Rhoades, INF, College of Idaho.