2015 Gulf South Conference Softball Championship Tournament
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2015 Gulf South Conference Softball Championship Tournament April 30-May 2 Steel’s Diamond at Blazer Park, Valdosta, Ga. www.gscsports.org | @GulfSouth | #GSCSB HISTORY OF THE GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE Academic excellence and a leadership role in the NCAA’s Division II make the Gulf South Conference (GSC) something special. The GSC is a charter member of Division II and enters its 45th year as one of the premier conferences at any NCAA level. In the summer of 1970, six college presidents met to discuss athletics; when the meeting ended, a new league emerged—the Mid-South Conference—started by, and to this day run by, the CEOs, the first in NCAA history. It is that CEO-control and involvement that makes the league work and its 14 championships (football; men’s & women’s cross country, men’s & women’s soccer; volleyball, men’s & women’s basketball, men’s & women’s tennis, men’s & women’s golf, softball and baseball) so intensely contested. From that point forward, the GSC has been giant steps ahead of the D-II pack. Beginning in 1997, the league found neutral sites paying size- able guarantees for most of its team championships. NCAA Conventions regularly feature GSC-proposed or -inspired legislation. No one wins more regionals or earns more NCAA post-season bids. In 2004, the league purchased its own built-to-its-specification office space. But the crowning moment came in 2005-06, when the GSC debuted its highly successful “GSC-TV Live” package which included nine football games (now 11) and its men’s & women’s basketball tournament finals. Add to that the branded “GSC DigiNet” video platform and the live-streaming of most of its championships, and you can see why the GSC is a Conference always taking advantage of new innovations. We take pride in our 49 National Team Championships in 13 sports and more than 100 regional titles, especially because there is no sacrifice on the academic side, where GSC student-athletes graduate a much higher rate than the general student body. Three GSC teams advance to NCAA Title contests in 2013-14 headlined by West Florida which hoisted its third all-time NCAA Men’s Tennis Title. Delta State, Florence State (now North Alabama), Jacksonville State, Livingston (now West Alabama), Tennessee-Martin and Troy State were the charter members. Scheduling problems for the 1970-71 academic year limited the GSC to football, won by Jacksonville State. In 1971, the addition of Southeast Louisiana (SELA) and Nichols State increased the membership to eight. The league opened an office in Hammond, LA, changed its name to the Gulf South Conference and began championships in nine men’s sports. Mississippi College and Northwestern Louisiana (NWLA, now Northwest- ern State) joined in 1972 and two years later, NELA left for Division I, followed by SELA and Nicholls State in 1979. The conference continued with seven teams until 1981, when the CEOs admitted Valdosta State and West Georgia (1983). In 1991, Tennes- see-Martin and Troy State went Division I, briefly dropping the GSC back to seven members. An aggressive expansion under the guidance of new Com- missioner Nate Salant resulted in 10 new members: Lincoln Memorial (1992-93); Alabama Huntsville, Henderson State, Central Arkansas and Missis- sippi University for Women (1993-94); West Florida (1994-95); and Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas Tech, Montevallo and Southern Arkansas (1995-96). Jacksonville State moved to Division I at the end of 1992-93. Mississippi College dropped to Division III at the end of 1995-96, and was replaced by Christian Brothers to keep the Conference at 16 schools. In July 2000, the GSC welcomed Harding University and Ouachita Baptist University, making it the largest NCAA-playing conference at any level with 18 schools. MUW dropped its athletics program at the end of the 2002-03 season, decreasing the membership to 17. Central Arkansas reclassified to Division I and Lincoln Memorial moved to the South Atlantic Conference following the 2006-07 year. Montevallo’s departure for the Peach Belt Conference dropped the number to 14. The GSC moved away from divisional play after the 2010-11 season after its six Arkansas members broke away, dropping the membership to eight. Thanks to an aggressive expansion plan, the GSC sponsored the Division II applications of Union University (TN) and Shorter University (GA), which became official members in 2014-15. The next step in bolstering its membership came in 2012, backing the Division II application of Lee Uni- versity (TN) which is on track to join the league officially in 2015-16. The league added its first-ever associate member, Florida Tech, in football only in 2013. The Conference hopes to officially add an old friend back into the fold when Mississippi College submitted its application to rejoin Division II and is on track for 2016-17 membership. Former Commissioner Jim McCullough brought the GSC office to Birmingham when he was hired in 1979. The Conference welcomed its sev- enth Commissioner in May, 2014 when Matt Wilson was selected to follow Nate Salant who retired after a 22-year stint. Wilson is assisted by Assistant Commissioner for Championships and Media Michael Anderson, Assistant Commissioner for Compliance Andrea Anderson and Media Relations Direc- tor Michael Stagno. The Chair of the GSC Board of Directors is Dr. John Smarrelli (Christian Brothers). Joining him on the Executive Committee are Vice-Chair Dr. William LaForge (Delta State) and Past-Chair Dr. Judith Bense (West Florida). The Supervisors of Officials are Jeff Roberson (Football), John Caldwell (Basketball), Mike McCray (Baseball) and Eric Ackerman (Soccer). GSC National Championships GSC Commissioners 1971-2014 (49) 1971-Present BASEBALL (6) WOMEN’S GOLF (3) Matt Wilson (2014-Present) West Florida (2011) Troy State (1984, ‘86, ‘89) Nate Salant (1992-2014) Delta State (2004) Sonny Moran (1987-1992) Troy State (1986, ‘87) WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS (2) Ralph McFillen (1984-1987) Jacksonville State (1990, ‘91) Jacksonville State (1984, ‘85) Hayden Riley (1982-1984) MEN’S BASKETBALL (3) HOCKEY (2) Jim McCullough (1979-1982) North Alabama (1979, ‘91) Alabama-Huntsville (1996, ‘98) Stan Galloway (1971-1979) Jacksonville State (1985) WOMEN’S SOCCER (2) WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (7) Christian Brothers (2002) Delta State (1975, ‘76, ‘77, ‘89, ‘90, ‘92) West Florida (2012) Southeastern Louisiana (1977*) SOFTBALL (1) FOOTBALL (11) Valdosta State (2011) Delta State (2000) North Alabama (1993, ‘94, ‘95) MEN’S TENNIS (5) Valdosta State (2004, ‘07, ‘12) Valdosta State (2006, ‘11) West Alabama (1971) West Florida (2004, ‘05, ‘14) Jacksonville State (1992) Troy State (1984, ‘87) TRACK (1) Southeastern Louisiana (1975) MEN’S GOLF (5) Troy State (1976, ‘77, ‘84) WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL (1) West Florida (2001, ‘08) North Alabama (2003) Current members in BOLD; *--Small College Division Champion 2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 1 www.gscsports.org UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE CHARGERS Head Coach: Les Stuedman Current record at UAH: 931-290-1 (20th year) Assistant Coach: Melanie Carter No. Name Pos Ht Cl B/T Hometown 1 Victoria Frith IF 5-4 Sr. L/R Huntsville, Ala. 2 Kristin Chapman OF 5-5 Fr. R/R Vestavia Hills, Ala. 3 Kaitlyn Bannister IF/C 5-9 So. R/R Albertville, Ala. 5 Bailey King C 5-5 Fr. R/R Springville, Ala. 7 Victoria Crumpton OF 5-6 Fr. S/R Hatton, Ala. 8 Perri Gilbert OF 5-7 Fr. R/R Haleyville, Ala. 11 Savannah Smith 1B 5-7 Jr. L/L Guin, Ala. 12 Michal Robertson IF 5-7 Sr. R/R Northport, Ala. 14 Taylor Doriety P 5-10 So. R/R Hueytown, Ala. 15 Abby Roberts C 5-7 Jr. R/R Meridian, Miss. 16 Morgan Hopkins 2B 5-6 Sr. R/R Alexandria, Ala. 20 Brianna Sullivan OF 5-4 Jr. S/R Madison, Ala. 21 Emily Glover P/IF 5-5 So. R/R Scottsboro, Ala. 22 Kimberly Jack P 5-10 Jr. R/R Knoxville, Tenn. 25 Haley Thompson 2B/OF 5-4 So. R/R Hazel Green, Ala. 44 Tyler Harrison P/1B 5-8 So. L/L Mobile, Ala. 2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 2 www.gscsports.org DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY LADY STATESMEN Head Coach: Casey Bourgoyne-Charles Current record at DSU: 161-72 (7th year) Assistant Coaches: David Martinez, Preslie Long, Raina Stiffler No. Name Pos Ht Cl B/T Hometown 2 Kassidy Tally OF 5-8 Jr. L\R Raleigh, Miss. 3 Katelyn Westbrook OF 5-8 Jr. R\R Olive Branch, Miss. 4 Jessie Rodriguez INF 5-3 Jr. R\R Mont Belvieu, Texas 5 Rainer Hodges UTL 5-7 Fr. R\R Greenville, Miss. 6 Kara Lane Nowell UTL 5-4 So. R\R Louisville, Miss. 7 Amber Adcock INF 5-4 Sr. R\R Brandon, Miss. 8 Shayna Beaver P 5-9 Fr. R\R Paragould, Ark. 9 Madison Zoeller C 5-6 So. R\R Nashville, Tenn. 10 Kaitlin Moore OF 5-10 Jr. L\L Southaven, Miss. 11 Andrea Cutts UTL 5-8 Sr. R\R Ackerman, Miss. 12 Memrie Corley OF 5-7 Jr. S\R Carrollton, Miss. 13 Taylor Holland INF 5-8 Sr. R\R Grenada, Miss. 14 Katie Justice P/INF 5-6 Fr. R\R Jasper, Ala. 15 Kory Watterson INF 5-7 Jr. R\R Nesbit, Miss. 17 Ellen Tarrant INF 5-4 Sr. R\R New Albany, Miss. 20 Mariah Alvarez OF 5-5 Jr. L\R Saginaw, Texas 21 Brook Cline INF 5-4 Sr. R\R Frisco, Texas 22 Ashley Mrozinski UTL 5-5 Sr. L\R Roseville, Calif. 23 Taylor Tucker P 5-6 So. R\R Steele, Ala. 24 Brooke Watts P 5-7 Fr.