BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Valdosta State softball player Morgan Johnson is one of five Gulf South Conference female student-athletes that will be honored tonight at a ceremony in Birmingham, Ala. One of the five will be named the conference's Commissioner's Trophy winner, which is awarded to the top male and female athletes in the conference.
North Alabama's Nikki Brown (soccer), Alabama-Huntsville's Mary Kelley (softball), Delta State's Veronica Walker (basketball) and West Florida's Anna Stoecklin (volleyball) are the other finalists for the award.
Criteria used to determine the Commissioner's Trophy winner is based off athletic and academic performance along with community service work.
Johnson, who was named the conference's Freshman of the Year, following the 2010 season, could become the second Valdosta State student-athlete to win the Commissioner's Trophy in three years after baseball's Jon Koeningsfeld won the award in 2010.
A key contributor to the Blazers' 2012 national championship, Johnson hit .427 with 82 hits, 18 doubles, 11 home runs — 2 in the national tournament — 51 runs batted in and two triples. In the classroom, Johnson posted a 3.66 grade point average in a nursing major.
Tonight's ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7:25 eastern time.
