Stout softball’s Dolecki awarded DIII gold glove
Article excerpt
UW-Stout senior Payton Dolecki was lounging outside with her sisters watching the Women's College World Series when her coach Lakyn Krizan texted her in all caps: "You got the Gold Glove." Dolecki, the Blue Devils' star center fielder, became the first Stout softball player to earn the Division III gold glove award. The honor recognizes her exceptional defensive play throughout the season, capping off a remarkable career at the Wisconsin school.
MENOMONIE, UW-Stout senior Payton Dolecki was having an ordinary Thursday when she received an unordinary text from Blue Devils softball coach Lakyn Krizan.
“I was sitting outside with my sisters watching the Women’s College World Series,” Dolecki recalled. “My coach texted me in all caps, ‘You got the Gold Glove,’ and I was like, ‘Shut up. No, I didn’t.’
Dolecki, Stout’s star center fielder, earned a NCAA Division III Rawlings Gold Glove Award courtesy of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
“I was freaking out,” Dolecki said.
A senior from Schaumburg, Illinois, Dolecki is the first player in UW-Stout softball history to earn the honor after posting a perfect defensive season, where she recorded 60 putouts and 10 outfield assists without committing an error.
“I didn’t know until I read the article,” Dolecki said of being the first Blue Devil to earn the honor. “I was just like, ‘Wow.’”
Defensive pride exudes from Dolecki whenever she is on the field.
“If my offense wasn’t on, I try to make my defense be the better of the two for that game or that day,” Dolecki said. “I would just try to make it easier for the pitchers so they don’t have to throw more pitches.”
Before getting to Stout, Dolecki learned the diligence needed to succeed at outfield defense while on a youth travel team. She learned not only through hard work, but also through the tutelage of future Northwestern Wildcat Angela Zedak.
“Getting to be under her wing was awesome,” Dolecki said. “Her mentality was like ‘I don’t care, I’m getting everything and going 110% for every single ball.”
That mentality served Dolecki well when she got to Stout, as she recorded just three errors across her four years.
Dolecki’s .989 fielding percentage puts her tied for second in Stout history and her perfect 2026 is the seventh in program history.
Dolecki’s arm was equally as golden as her glove.
She recorded 10 outfield assists, nine of which came on throws to home plate. She saved her best for throwing out the potential game-winning run in the 12th inning against rival UW-Oshkosh and gunning down the tying run in a win against Buena Vista.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen my assistant coach more excited and hyped in his entire life,” Dolecki said of the aftermath of her Buena Vista throw.
Her defense also served Dolecki well at the plate.
“It makes me just feel like I’m contributing to the team,” Dolecki said. “I bring that momentum towards the batter’s box and it makes me feel a lot better and positive about myself knowing I can add on to it.”
Dolecki batted .350 with a .468 slugging percentage to earn All-WIAC Honorable Mention honors this year. She earned First Team All-WIAC as a junior and was an honorable mention as a sophomore.
Dolecki believes her golden honor is indicative of a program on the rise.
“This program is going in such a better direction,” Dolecki said. “Especially with Coach Lak, she’s made us become better people and better players, and made us really work as a family and as one. It’s not just one person’s game, it’s everybody’s game.”