VALDOSTA, GA – For the third straight season, Courtney Albritton has been named the Gulf South Conference Player-of-the-Year. Additionally, four Valdosta State student-athletes earned spots on the 2014 All-GSC First Team.
Shelby Altman, Chelsea Canara, and Brianna Hancock join Albritton as members of the All-GSC First Team after helping lead the Blazers to a 36-12 record and a No. 19 ranking in the most recent NFCA national poll.
The foursome’s combined efforts at the plate this season have lifted Valdosta State to a conference high 326 RBI’s on the year, and have earned the Blazers the top position on the GSC leaderboards in runs scored, slugging percentage, on base percentage, home runs, and total bases.
“You’re talking about four starters who have done alot for this program,” said Head Coach Thomas Macera. “Each one of them have been very consistent all season long, and their strong play week in and week out have put us in a great position going into the postseason.”
The honor for Altman marks her second straight season as a member of the All-GSC First Team, and her recognition comes after a regular season in which she ranked among the top five of her GSC peers in a slew of offensive categories. As the team heads into postseason play later this week, the Alma, Ga. native currently stands among the top six in the league in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits, and total bases. In addition, she is tied for the league lead in RBI’s, and trails only her teammate, Albritton, in runs scored.
The award for Hancock represents her second straight year of All-GSC recognition, as the Blazer hurler was a member of the Second Team in 2013. Her season thus far includes a 17-6 record, which places her in a three way tie at the top of the GSC in regular season wins, and her 161 strikeouts place her just one behind the league leader.
Canara’s strong freshman campaign earned the second baseman her first career appearance as an All-GSC selection. Her outstanding regular season included a .346 batting average, 66 total bases, four homers, and 34 RBI’s.
Although Albritton has been named the Gulf South Conference Player-of-the-Year honor in each of her three seasons in a Blazer uniform, the significance of the accomplishment isn’t lost on the junior center-fielder.
“It is such an honor to be recognized as the Player-of-the-Year, especially on a team and as a part of a conference with such great players,” said Albritton. “This could never have been achieved without our great team and coaching staff. I mentioned earlier in the year that God has given me the talent. I love to play, and I just feel extremely blessed.”
Only one other time in the history of the award has a player won it in each of her first three seasons. Stephanie Pinto accomplished the feat during her first three seasons back in 2004-06. Pinto’s name might be familiar to Blazer fans who have been following the VSU softball team this season, as both Albritton and West Georgia’s Nicole Yancey spent a majority of the 2014 season chasing Pinto’s longstanding GSC Career home run record before it was finally broken by Yancey in early April.
Albritton leads both the Blazers and the GSC in nearly every offensive category, but just as impressive has been her efforts on defense in 2014. In 110 opportunities during her split time at catcher and in center field this year, she has tallied 97 putouts and 13 assists. Even more astounding, is the fact that she has done all of this without committing a single error.
Coach Macera and his squad are currently gearing up for the Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits 2014 Gulf South Conference Tournament, which is set to begin on Thursday, May 1st in Cullman, Ala.. The Blazers will open up against the rival Wolves of West Georgia at 12:00 p.m., and Blazer Nation can follow all of the action via live stats, audio, and Twitter updates. Coverage links can all be found at www.vstateblazers.com.
Source: Valdosta State University Athletics
