VALDOSTA, Ga. – The preseason honors continued to roll in for Blazer baseball senior Michael Gouge this week, as he extended his list of accolades with a spot on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association list of preseason All-Americans.
Second Team recognition came for Gouge in anticipation of his final season, which will open up for the Valdosta State Blazer baseball program on Saturday at noon in Dahlonega, Ga. against the Nighthawks of North Georgia.
Gouge will try and match a stellar junior season in which the Snellville, Ga. native represented one of the top hitters in the Gulf South Conference. Upon conclusion of the 2015 season, the Blazer third baseman finished among the league’s top ten in batting average (.390, 5th), slugging percentage (.684, 3rd), on base percentage (.491, 3rd), runs scored (49, 7th), hits (69, 3rd), RBI’s (59, 2nd), doubles (16, 6th), and home runs (12, 4th). His career average stands at .356, and he is approaching 100 career RBI’s (98) and 100 career runs scored (97).
The Blazers will kick off their 2016 season this weekend with the aforementioned double header opener at UNG. Live coverage of the action can be picked up at www.vstateblazers.com.
Additionally, the Blazers will open up their home schedule on Wednesday, February 3rd against Albany State at 5:00 p.m., and will continue at home on Saturday, February 6th at noon. The February 6th contest will be a special event for Blazer baseball that will also include a BBQ fundraiser in support of Head Coach Greg Guilliams’ wife, Ami, who is currently fighting an intense battle with cancer. A donation of $10 or more at the event will earn each attendee a BBQ plate along with free admission to the game. The event is sponsored by the Valdosta State Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and proceeds will go directly to the Guilliams family.
