By Tara Sowle
UWRF Sports Information

Senior Megan Blakeley finishes out her final season with the Falcon softball team in 2004 as a co-captain.

Blakeley said she was very, "surprised" at the decision, but Falcon Coach Faye Perkins knows that decision was well thought out by the team. "The fact that she was chosen as a co-captain of this year's team is indicative of the respect that her teammates have for her," said Perkins.

Last year Blakeley played in 11 games and had one hit and scored one run. An outstanding student, she was named to the 2004 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and an AFCA Scholar-Athlete.

This year she plays third base when a sub is needed and has done some pinch hitting. She is 1-5 this spring with one walk and one sacrifice. When she steps up to the plate her goal is to, "get a base hit to
move players up, hit line drives to the gap or do anything to get on base."

"Even though Megan has not been a regular starter on the softball team, she never stops trying and keeps working hard," said Perkins. "Megan is one of the hardest working athletes with whom I have worked. She is driven to continually do better and works hard to achieve the goals that she sets for herself and the team."

Blakeley started playing softball when she was three years old in tee-ball. Her family has always been big supporters of her softball career. "Everyone in my family plays softball or baseball. My parents just introduced me to the sport and hoped for the best." She also played volleyball in high school but quickly found out softball was where her interests were.

She played for UW-Eau Claire for a year before transferring to UW-RF.

She decided to play for River Falls because it was the place her high school coaches encouraged her to go. She went to River Falls High School and some of her coaches went to UW-RF.

Blakeley hopes to be an elementary school counselor and loves working with kids and helping her community whenever she can. "I work when I can - softball is a big commitment."

In high school and up till her first year of college, she coached softball for kids between ages 4-14 for the City of River Falls Parks and Recreation Department. She also participated in the Overnight Sleep-out,
which raises awareness for the homeless.

"Megan cares about her community and is willing to do what she can to help," said Perkins. "She is easy to work with, and gets along great with the other members of the team. She is an exemplary "team" player and is willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of the team."

Megan Blakeley