STARKVILLE, Miss. —
Five Valdosta State softball players have been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association All-South Region first team.
Blazers shortstop Marti Littlefield, second baseman April Hutchens, pitcher Alanna Hadley, left fielder Morgan Johnson and center fielder Courtney Albritton all made the NFCA All-South Region first team.
All five players also made the All-Gulf South Conference first team, as well as the Daktronics All-South Region squad. Hadley, Hutchens and Albritton were all Daktronics All-Region first teamers.
VSU and Alabama-Huntsville had the most NFCA first team All-Region selections.
Littlefield made the NFCA All-Region squad for the fourth consecutive season. Johnson made her second NFCA All-Region team (she also made it in 2010, her freshman season). Albritton and Hadley earned their first NFCA All-Region awards in their first seasons at Valdosta State. Hutchens also made her first All-Region team.
Littlefield has cemented her legacy at Valdosta State. The senior shortstop recently broke the Gulf South Conference career record for runs batted in, and currently has 239 RBIs. Littlefield has blasted 56 career home runs, and needs just one more to tie the GSC career record for home runs. She’s batting .343 with 57 hits, nine home runs, 16 doubles, two triples and 54 RBIs this year. She has been walked a team-high 37 times. Littlefield also made the All-Gulf South Conference first team.
Hutchens has been considered one of the best defensive second basemen in the region, and maybe the nation, since she has been at VSU, but this year she has put together her best offensive output to date. She is batting a career-high .313. She has scored 35 runs this season, with nine doubles, a home run and 25 RBIs. Hutchens was also an All-GSC first teamer.
Hadley has been the ace for VSU in her only season in the Blazers’ pitcher’s circle. She was named the GSC Pitcher of the Year and earned the GSC Pitcher of the Week award five times this season. She currently owns an impressive 27-3 record and an 0.97 earned run average. She has 11 solo shutouts on the season, as well as 27 complete games and 194 innings pitched. She has struck out 146 batters, and opponents are hitting just .174 against her.
The other two Blazers to make the NFCA All-South Region Team have been the team’s most prolific offensive forces. The duo of Johnson and Albritton have flip-flopped throughout the season for the team’s highest batting average. Johnson currently leads the team with a .450 batting average and a team-high .520 on-base percentage. Johnson has nine homers, 44 RBIs, two triples, 17 doubles and 76 hits. She has scored 50 runs and is slugging .734. She was another All-GSC first teamer, and knocked in the winning run against Rollins in the final game of the South Regional.
Albritton took VSU and the entire Gulf South Conference by storm in her freshman season. She was named the GSC’s Freshman and Player of the Year. She is first on the VSU squad in runs scored (67), hits (88), doubles (19), triples (3), home runs (15), RBIs (58), slugging percentage (.794) and stolen bases (12 for 12). On Monday, she robbed Rollins’ Veronica Alred of a home run in the seventh inning of the final game of the South Region I tournament to secure VSU’s path to the Super Regionals.
The five All-Region selections are now eligible for NFCA All-America status.
Albritton, Hutchens, Hadley, Johnson and Littlefield will lead Valdosta State in the team’s quest to reach the Division II national tournament when they face Florida Southern in the South Super Regional. The first game starts today at 6 p.m. at the VSU Softball Complex.
Local Sports
5 VSU softball players named to All-Region team
- Local Sports
-
-
Georgia Sparks win championship in Orlando
The Georgia Sparks Basketball Teams traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in Spring Fling 2 Super Region Tournament which took place at Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. This was a busy weekend for the Sparks as they had three teams and over 30 parents.
-
52nd Annual Valdosta Open tees off
The Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta and the Valdosta Country Club are hosting the 52nd annual Valdosta Open June 29-30.
-
GSC Awards Ceremony
The Gulf South Conference is proud to announce its 17th annual GSC “Top Ten” Award winners.
-
Georgia Sparks win championship in Orlando
The Georgia Sparks Basketball Teams traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in Spring Fling 2 Super Region Tournament which took place at Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. This was a busy weekend for the Sparks which brought three teams and over 30 parents.
-
Manu Ginobili sparks Spurs to Game 5 win
Manu Ginobili ran onto the floor as fans stood and screamed.
He went to the bench, and they chanted his name.
The sights and sounds of so many San Antonio spring nights were back Sunday night — and the real party might be just a few days away.
Ginobili broke out of a slump in a big way with 24 points and 10 assists in his first start of the season, and the Spurs beat the Miami Heat 114-104 to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. -
2013 South Georgia Diamond Brawl
The Lowndes Vikings baseball team is set to host the 16th Annual South Georgia Diamond Brawl, featuring 19 teams playing 28 games across four fields.
-
Jaguars Caravan 2013
The Jackonsivlle Jaguars’ caravan made a stop at the Valdosta Mall Saturday for their second visit in as many years.
-
Stormy weather halts play during US Open 1st round
Phil Mickelson rolled a birdie attempt 8 feet past the hole at No. 11. Steve Stricker did the same at No. 12. Bogey. Bogey.
And that wasn’t even the stormy part. -
Blackhawks beat Bruins 4-3 in 3OT Cup opener
The Chicago Blackhawks know all about Andrew Shaw’s reputation around the league. They also know the pesky little forward is so much more than just another irritant for opposing players.
-
Valdosta’s Eldridge inducted to Georgia Golf Hall of Fame
Frank Eldridge has been playing golf so long that he has spent nearly his whole life with a club in his hand.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
