Friend Encounters: Emily Allard, Megan Blank, Michelle Gascoigne, Sammy Marshall and Chris Bejcek

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

This is a big group Friend Encounters. It is fitting as it is right in the middle of the Chicago Bandits season.
It represents great times for my bud Chris Bejcek and also for me. Chris is surrounded by former outfielder Emily Allard, former infielder Megan Blank, former pitcher Michelle Gascoigne and former Bandits player Sammy Marshall. Now, just three years after this picture, all four ladies are either retired or playing elsewhere. That's just life in the NPF.
Emily was forced into retirement due to concussion issues. She is doing great, running BeTheMomentumSoftball.com and clinics all over.
Megan retired after last season. She has done coaching clinics and I think coachinbg somewhere is in her future.
Michelle was coaching in the collegiate ranks while playing. She is currently the pitching coach at Northwestern, who had a fantastic 2019 season. Check out the Cats at NUSports.com.
Sammy is a local athlete who starred at Western Illinois before becoming a star with the Bandits. In the last offseason, she was traded to Cleveland. It was a tough loss, Sammy is doing fine and also has a bright future in coaching.
Meanwhile, there is Chris, a music junkie. Aside from his passion for the Bandits, Chris is a big time concert goer. His musical love seems to span the spectrum. If you don't see him at a Bandits game, chances are he is at some concert.
These five represent great people I have met and befriended through the Bandits. Bandit Nation isn't just a name for the fan group. Bandit Nation is a community of people who come together for our love of softball, but who have developed friendships outside of the ballpark.
I have seen each of these ladies since their departures from the Bandits and it is like sweeing an old friend. You can't emotionally invest in the team, without being attached to the players. Likewise, they become attached to the loyal fans who have supported them.
There is still plenty of softball action left in the season. I encourage everyone to get in on the fun. Go to ChicagoBandits.com to get all of the info and scheduling.

Emily Allard, Megan Blank, Chris Bejcek, Michelle Gascoigne and Sammy Marshall in Rosemont, IL-April 2016.

Goodbye, Good Luck and Thank You to Megan Blank

Like yesterday's featured player Lacey Waldrop, Megan Blank, another longtime favorite Chicago Bandit has retired. It ws a tough week for Bandit Nation.

Megan was a star at the University of Iowa, before being drafted by the Bandits in 2015. Again like Lacey, Megan was a key part of two NPF championships.

Megan was a versatile and dependable player. She was solid at 3rd or 1st base. She was a team leader through actions. She didn't rab many headlines, but she was always one of thebest on and off the field. On my road trip to Akron a few years ago, she was one of my "picks to click" and she came through with a big game.

Her parents (Jim and Marcia) were frequently at the games. A special thanks to them to a very awesome gesture. After watching one of my interviews with Megan, where I expressed my search for a Megan Iowa bobblehead, Jim sent me a message offering one. It proudly sits on my bookshelf among my other NPF memorabilia. That was a very nice gift and I greatly appreciated it.

I also appreciated the friendship on the Blank family including Megan. They were always friendly and up for a little softball talk.

I think Megan will end up coaching somewhere. Currently, she does instruction and clinics. I hope our paths cross again and I will be following her career wherever it takes her. I wish her great luck and happiness and I thank her for her time and consideration while here.

You can check out my first interview with Megan at On the Beat With Megan Blank. My other interviews with Megan are there, too, as well as all my interviews with the Bandits over the years. Also, check out ChicagoBandits.com for more info on the 2019 team!

Megan Blank and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2018.

On the Beat With the Chicago Bandits 2018 (Interviews Part 2)

The Chicago Bandits hit a bit of a bump in the form of the USSSA Pride. The Bandits have lost 5 of the 6 games with the Pride this season. The Pride is now in 1st place at 18-1, while the Bandits at 19-5 are in 2nd place.

The losses to the Pride hurt a bit, but as expected, this NPF season is shaping up to be a 2 team race. In 3rd place are the Beijing Eagles at 11-16, followed by the Cleveland Comets at 7-18 and the Aussie Spirit at 9-24.
I wrote a more detailed piece on the Patch.com at On the Beat With the Chicago Bandits. (Yes, it is a very creative title.)

Thanks to the hospitality of the Bandits and the assistance from Media Relations Director Jason Lowenthal, I was able to interview 3 Bandits last weekend. Rookie shortstop Delaney Spaulding, rookie outfielder Jessie Scroggins and 1st baseman Megan Blank gave me their thoughts on a variety of topics. Ace fan Kenzie Parker also supplied a couple questions for Megan.

It's always fun for me to learn more about the great athletes of the Bandits. Whether I ask about game specific things, overall experiences, silly topics or anything else, the women always provide thoughtful answers. I enjoy getting some fun info from the women and I hope Bandit Nation enjoys it, too.

For more info on the Bandits, check out ChicagoBandits.com. You can also return here for recurring coverage all season. Lastly, you can see all of my interviews with the Bandits from 2013 to present on my Johngy's Beat Chicago Bandits YouTube playlist.

On the Beat With Megan Blank of the Chicago Bandits 2017

We are very excited to be back "On the Beat" with the National Pro Fastpitch defending champion Chicago Bandits for the 2017 season.  Actually, the Bandits are back-to-back defending champions.  Our coverage starts with Megan Blank.

Megan had a great career at Iowa.  Among other awards, achievements and records, Megan was a 4x All-Big Ten First Team selection.  The California native signed with the Bandits after an open tryout in May of 2015.

In her rookie season, Megan showed her versatility by playing games at DH, RF and 1B.  Of course, she also showed offensive promise, hitting .258 with 3 home runs and 14 rbi's.

Her second season was even better, although she started off a bit slowly.  Megan turned it on by midseason, finishing with an average of .285, with 3 home runs and 21 rbi's.  She also logged game time at 1B, 3B and RF.

Along with watching Megan up close in Chicago over the last two seasons, I had the pleasure of seeing her in action in Akron on a road trip last season.  Megan had a great game and I landed her for a post-game interview.  That was one of the summer highlights for me.

In just two short seasons, Megan has become a team leader and a fan favorite.  I have seen her sign dozens of autographs for young fans after games.

Her family is very supportive of her and the Bandits...and me!  During my last two interviews with Megan, I mentioned her Iowa bobblehead.  I had been scouring the internet for one, but I was so pleasantly surprised when Megan's father messaged me and offered one to me.  That bobblehead proudly stands on my bookshelf.  Once again, I send out thanks for that gift.  It was so very cool to receive it.

Recently, after pre-season practice, I interviewed Megan (our first of the season!).  We talked about her winning two championships in her first two seasons.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Megan was a big part of the success of the Bandits and will be going forward, especially as the team progresses through the current transition period.

We also talked about her big in-season turnaround last year.  In mid-June, she was hitting .031, but she never gave up and brought her average all the way up to .281.  That is an amazing comeback and is testament to her ability and determination.

Can you tell I am a fan of Megan?  Every team needs a player like Megan.  The Bandits and the fans here are lucky to have her.

Below is our interview with Megan.  Check the Johngy's Beat Chicago Bandits playlist on YouTube for all of our interviews with the Bandits!  Keep checking Johngy's Beat for recurring coverage of the Bandits this season and go to ChicagoBandits.com for more info on the best team around.

Thank you to the Chicago Bandits organization for their hospitality.  Thanks to Megan for her time and consideration now and always and for her part in bringing two NPF titles to Chicago!  Lastly, thanks to Megan's parents for that awesome bobblehead!

On the Beat with Megan Blank of the Chicago Bandits 2015

Today, the Johngy's Beat and Justin's World of Softball joint coverage of the 2015 Chicago Bandits features rookie infielder Megan Blank.  Megan comes to the Bandits with an impressive resume and a fun novelty.
Megan started 154 games at shortstop for the University of Iowa.  She racked up a bunch of awards and honors along the way.  She joined the Bandits via the draft.
With no disrespect to her athletic achievements, I was very interested in something else.  Megan has her own bobblehead doll.  This is so cool.  The story behind it is even better, but I'll let Megan tell it in the interview below.
Megan is off to a bit of a slow start, but I am sure she will turn it around.  It is especially hard for rookies, because they are used to playing every day.  With a veteran infield on the Bandits, playing time will be hard to get for Megan, which means getting on track is that much tougher.  I have no doubt Megan will get things going.  Even with limited playing time, she already has 3 rbi's and a stolen base.
Maybe someday Megan will have a Bandits bobblehead.  The Bandits have plenty of promotions, as you will see if you go to ChicagoBandits.com.  Make sure to find their schedule for game times and come in person or watch on television or YouTube.  It's always a great time with the Bandits.