BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team has earned the utmost respect from the Gulf South Conference West Division softball coaches, as the Blossoms have swept all four yearly awards.
 
Senior Lindsey Randall has been named GSC-West Player of the Year, freshman teammate Kayla Jackson has been named the GSC-West Freshman and Pitcher of the Year and head coach Alvy Early has been named GSC-West Coach of the Year.
 
The GSC office also released the 2009 All-GSC softball teams, which includes six UAM players – five first team selections, tying the most in UAM history, and one second team selection.
 
Jackson and Randall were placed on the first team, while senior catcher Amy Mardis, junior second baseman Emilie Hobbs and junior outfielder Becca Tipton also earned first team honors.
 
Freshman Katie Bowman rounded out UAM’s selections, earning a spot on the All-GSC Second Team as an outfielder.
 
“This is a fitting tribute for all of the hard work we have done and continue to do this season,” said Early. “All of these young ladies deserve these awards. They have been hard-workers and solid performers all season long.”
 
Randall (Keithville, La.) becomes the fourth UAM player to be named GSC-West Player of the Year and the second in the past three seasons, following Meredith Heckel’s selection in 2007. Randall set the tone for UAM on both sides of the game, hitting .381 (10th-GSC) with eight homeruns and 35 RBI, while recording 88 putouts and 121 assists at the shortstop position. The senior was in the league Top 10 in runs scored (51), hits (74) and total bases (120). She also tied for the conference lead in doubles, with 18 two-baggers this season.
 
“I truly believe that it would be hard to find anyone who plays as hard as Lindsey does in every single pitch of every single game,” Early commented. “She is a fierce competitor on the field as well as a great team leader.”
 
Jackson (Hallsville, Texas) had a special season, ultimately leading to UAM’s first ever GSC-West Pitcher of the Year selection, since the league adopted the award in 2005. She also made an addition to the GSC record book, becoming just the second player ever to be named GSC-West Pitcher and Freshman of the Year in the same season. Jackson also becomes UAM’s fourth Freshman of the Year. She finished the regular season leading UAM both at the plate and in the pitcher’s circle, collecting a .390 batting average with 69 hits and 47 RBI. She also tallied 23 wins in the circle, while posting a 1.18 ERA. She allowed just 34 earned runs on the campaign and held hitters to a .177 batting average against her, while racking up 141 strikeouts.
 
“Kayla has contributed so much to our success this season,” said Early. “She is an exciting player to watch and I’m very proud of her for what she has done this year… I expected a lot out of her and she produced consistently, which is tough for a freshman.”
 
Early earns his first GSC-West Coach of the Year selection after leading the Blossoms to a regular season finish of 38-15, the program’s 11th season of at least 30 wins, all under Early’s guidance. He has also kept the Blossoms ranked in the top 10 of the rugged NCAA South Region all throughout the season.
 
Early and the Cotton Blossoms are set to compete for the 2009 GSC Championship, starting with the team’s opening round game on Friday, May 1 against West Florida at 2:30 p.m. in Southaven, Miss. at the Greenbrook Softball Complex.
 
All of UAM’s GSC tournament games are available on the radio in southeast Arkansas at KHBM-FM, 93.7. Live streaming of that broadcast can be heard worldwide at uamsports.com.
 
Also available for this year’s event is broadband video streaming. The Gulf South Conference and Penn Atlantic have partnered once again to bring fans all of the exciting action at the 2009 GSC Softball Tournament. The broadcast schedule can be found at the GSC Tournament website, www.gulfsouthconference.org.
 
*GSC Assistant Sports Information Director Eric SanInocencio contributed to this release.