Zacher Named Second-Team All-Region
May 19, 2004 | Softball
UW junior shortstop Kris Zacher took her game to a whole new level from her sophomore through junior seasons. After putting together one of the best individual seasons in Badger softball history, Zacher has been rewarded by being named an NFCA All-Mideast Region Second Team selection.
The award is voted on by Division I softball head coaches within their respective regions. By earning a spot on the all-region second team, Zacher is now eligible for All-America honors.
A native of Milwaukee and a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Zacher put a dent in the UW recordbooks in 2004. She set new school single-season records for hits (63) and total bases (91), while tying the mark for triples in a season (3).
Zacher led the Badgers with a .350 batting average, the fourth-highest season mark in school history. It was an impressive feat, as she raised her average an amazing .122 points from her .228 mark of 2003.
She additionally topped the squad with 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts, 35 runs scored and a .506 slugging percentage. Zacher also ranked second on the team with 31 RBI, just one shy of the previous single-season record.
As Zacher went, so did the Badgers in 2004. In UW's 29 wins this season, Zacher hit an impressive .475. On April 12 she was named the Big Ten Player of the Week after posting a .500 batting average, a .607 on-base percentage, 10 runs scored and four RBI in UW's seven games the previous week.
Zacher was also outstanding in the field, totaling 153 assists this season to rank second on the team. Her mark topped the school's previous single-season record of 150 set by Julie Borchard in 1996. She trailed only Athena Vasquez's total of 185 on this year's squad.
Zacher was honored on May 7 by being named the team's co-Most Valuable Player along with junior catcher Boo Gillette.
