WESTERVILLE – The Heidelberg University Softball team saw three players earn All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors as announced by the conference Tuesday morning. Gabbie Stallbaum was named OAC Co-Player of the Year, Emma Dean picked up second team honors, while Ellie Tressler landed on the honorable mention list. 

After a record breaking career, Stallbaum can add Player of the Year to her list of accolades. She is the first softball player in Heidelberg history to win this honor. Stallbaum led the conference in home runs with 12, RBI with 49, and stands alone at the top of the Heidelberg record books with 31 career home runs, 93 career walks, and is tied for first in single season home runs – sharing the top spot with Ashley Foust from 2006 and herself from last spring. 

On top of her 12 home runs this spring, Stallbaum held a batting average of .442, recorded 12 doubles, while finishing ninth in the country in slugging percentage, boasting a .917. This is her third time on the All-OAC team, earning an honorable mention nod in 2023 and first team utility player in 2024. 

Graduate student Emma Dean leaves Heidelberg with a decorated career, earning second team All-OAC honors. Dean sits second in Heidelberg history in career doubles with 47, and second in RBI with 130. On the season, Dean dazzled with 32 RBI, 11 doubles, while batting .377, collecting 40 hits. Impressively, her stellar season came on the heels of back-to-back seasons that ended prematurely due to injuries. After receiving first team accolades in 2021 and honorable mentions in 2022 and 2023, Dean became Heidelberg Softball's only four-time All-OAC honoree.  

Tressler, the junior catcher, turned in her best campaign to date, picking up an honorable mention nod. She was second on the team with six home runs, third on the team with 29 RBI, and batted .318 on 41 hits, while scoring 32 runs, all career highs. This is Tressler's second All-OAC honor, earning honorable mention in 2024.