May 16, 2013
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa shortstop Megan Blank has been named a 2013 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-Midwest Region selection, earning her second all-region honor in as many seasons. Blank is the sixth Hawkeye in program history to garner all-region honors in each of her first two seasons.
The sophomore became the ninth player in program history to earn all-region recognition as a freshman last year, as she was named to the second team.
Blank earned her second-straight first team All-Big Ten accolade last week, becoming the sixth Hawkeye in program history to earn first team honors in each of her first two seasons. She also garnered All-America and All-Big Ten honors from College Sports Madness.
Blank, who became the ninth player in school history to garner first team All-Big Ten honors as a freshman in 2012, hit .437 in 2013, setting Iowa’s single season batting average record. The previous record was .428, set by Kim Davis in 1993. The sophomore’s career average is .413, also marking the highest in program history. Blank’s 59 RBIs this year mark the second-highest single-season total in program history. Debbie Bilbao posted a school-record 61 RBIs in 1997. Blank belted 11 home runs this season — the third-highest single-season total.
Blank ranks fifth or higher in the Big Ten in eight major hitting categories. The Culver City, Calif., native is second in the Big Ten with 59 RBIs, third with a .437 batting average, a .766 slugging percentage, and 69 hits, fourth with 15 doubles and a .552 on-base percentage, and fifth in walks (35) and total bases (121).
Blank led the team with 19 multiple-RBI games and was second with 19 multi-hit games. She posted a 36-game reached-base streak and notched three or more RBIs eight times. Blank earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors twice this season and was named to the 2013 Lovelace Invitational All-Tournament team.
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2013 NFCA Division I All-America teams.
The 2013 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at 4 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, May 29, via NFCA.org.