Four Hoosiers Honored with Big Ten Yearly Awards
5/10/2017 2:00:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Big Ten announced yearly honors on Wednesday with the Hoosiers placing three on conference teams, led by senior CaraMia Tsirigos' selection as First Team All-Big Ten. Junior Rebecca Blitz earned Second Team All-Big Ten accolades for the second straight season while junior Rachel O'Malley was named to the All-Defensive Team. In addition, senior Erin Lehman was named Indiana's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Tsirigos is the first Hoosier to be named to the First Team since Shannon Cawley did so in 2012. The designated player and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree is currently hitting .301 this season with a .357 average in conference play. Tsirigos leads the team with eight homers on the year, with six of those coming in Big Ten action. With a career total of 25 home runs, Tsirigos is tied for fifth all-time in program history. Additionally, Tsirigos has drawn 37 walks in 2017, good for third most in the conference, with a 0.71 walks per game average that ranks 35th nationally. The Atlanta, Ga. native sits at second all-time in career walks at Indiana with 117.
Wednesday's accolade is the latest in a series for Tsirigos, who was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor last month. In addition, she was tabbed as a CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team honoree.
For the second year in a row, Blitz is leading the team with a .338 average, 54 hits and 16 stolen bases. She is tied with Tsirigos for a team-high .357 average in Big Ten play, with 25 hits and 13 runs coming in conference games. For her career, the Birmingham, Ala. native has a .344 average, good for seventh in program history. Her 104 career runs is sixth in Hoosier history and makes her just the ninth player to score 100 or more runs in Cream and Crimson. In addition, her 60 stolen bases puts her fifth all-time at IU. Blitz continues to add to her decorated career, having now twice be named Second Team All-Big Ten, as well as two NFCA Second Team All-Region accolades.
O'Malley is the first Hoosier to be picked for the All-Defensive Team, which was instituted in 2013. The shortstop has added to her highlight reel this season while posting a career-best .958 fielding percentage, including a .977 mark in Big Ten play. The Elk Grove Village, Ill. native has played every game of the 2017 season with 52 starts.
Lehman earned her first Sportsmanship Award, which is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Indiana opens up play in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday as the Hoosiers face Michigan State at 4:30 p.m. All games of the 2017 Big Ten Tournament will played at Wilpon Complex in Ann Arbor, Mich.
For the latest on Indiana Softball, be sure to follow #IUSoftball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
Tsirigos is the first Hoosier to be named to the First Team since Shannon Cawley did so in 2012. The designated player and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree is currently hitting .301 this season with a .357 average in conference play. Tsirigos leads the team with eight homers on the year, with six of those coming in Big Ten action. With a career total of 25 home runs, Tsirigos is tied for fifth all-time in program history. Additionally, Tsirigos has drawn 37 walks in 2017, good for third most in the conference, with a 0.71 walks per game average that ranks 35th nationally. The Atlanta, Ga. native sits at second all-time in career walks at Indiana with 117.
Wednesday's accolade is the latest in a series for Tsirigos, who was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor last month. In addition, she was tabbed as a CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team honoree.
For the second year in a row, Blitz is leading the team with a .338 average, 54 hits and 16 stolen bases. She is tied with Tsirigos for a team-high .357 average in Big Ten play, with 25 hits and 13 runs coming in conference games. For her career, the Birmingham, Ala. native has a .344 average, good for seventh in program history. Her 104 career runs is sixth in Hoosier history and makes her just the ninth player to score 100 or more runs in Cream and Crimson. In addition, her 60 stolen bases puts her fifth all-time at IU. Blitz continues to add to her decorated career, having now twice be named Second Team All-Big Ten, as well as two NFCA Second Team All-Region accolades.
O'Malley is the first Hoosier to be picked for the All-Defensive Team, which was instituted in 2013. The shortstop has added to her highlight reel this season while posting a career-best .958 fielding percentage, including a .977 mark in Big Ten play. The Elk Grove Village, Ill. native has played every game of the 2017 season with 52 starts.
Lehman earned her first Sportsmanship Award, which is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Indiana opens up play in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday as the Hoosiers face Michigan State at 4:30 p.m. All games of the 2017 Big Ten Tournament will played at Wilpon Complex in Ann Arbor, Mich.
For the latest on Indiana Softball, be sure to follow #IUSoftball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
Players Mentioned
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