March 2014 Volume 5, Issue 3 INSIDE THE EYE OF THE STORM Georgia Southwestern State University is in the middle of the 2013-14 season. The Eye of the Storm is your monthly source for all of the on-goings of the athletic department at GSW. Readers can briefly catch up on action that has already taken place, look ahead at the month’s upcoming athletic events and get the inside scoop on everything the Hurricanes do. DRIBBLIN’ TO THE PEACH BELT TOURNY The men’s basketball has completed the 201314 regular season at 19-9, 11-8 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Hurricanes have a chance to match the 2010-11 record of 20-9, as they enter into the Peach Belt tournament March 7th-9th. The Quarterfinals will be played at 5:00 p.m. against Lander University at Columbus State. The Hurricanes are going into the tournament in the second seat position, only trailing behind Montevallo in the West Division. The men’s team is ranked 28th nationally in blocks per game. Adding to the hype, Alan Arnett is ranked seventh in the PBC averaging 16.6 points per game, fourth with 466 overall points, and third in free throws with 133-170. Daryl Davis is ranked second in the PBC with a 58.8 field goal percentage and eight with 34 blocks. Johathan Brooks is ranked 23rd nationally in double-doubles achieved, with 11 on the season. Brooks is leading the PBC with 282 total rebounds; he is 10th in defensive rebounds nationally. Brooks is second with 10.1 rebounds per game in the PBC and 15th nationally. Brooks is also fifth in three-point shooting percentage with 44.3 and fourth with 44 blocks in the PBC. For More GSW Hoops action you can follow men’s basketball on twitter @GSWHoops_Canes. WOMEN’S HOOPS WORKS DEFENSE The women’s basketball team completed their 2013-14 season on March 1st against North Georgia in a loss of 85-68. The Lady ‘Canes have a record of
9-17 overall and 4-15 in the PBC. The women’s basketball season ends with a few high notes. As a team the women are ranked 6th in the nation for most steals as a team. Junior Shanedra Lockett is currently ranked ninth in the PBC with 371 points. Lockett is eighth in field goals with a 148-291 and ninth with a percentage of 50.9%. Senior Shaniece Sheffield was honored on Senior Day on February 22nd for her two years of hard work and dedication to the women’s basketball program. Sheffield is currently ranked ninth in the PBC with 53 steals recorded. BASEBALL: STRIKES ON STRIKES Baseball has experienced a slow start to the 2014 season, with a 4-13 overall record and 2-7 in the Peach Belt. The wins, during February, came from playing Truett-McConnell, Auburn Montgomery, Montevallo, and Francis Marion. The strikeout count for the Hurricanes is currently 111. Pitchers to keep an eye on are Matt Suggs, Lance Shelton, Zac Wittmus, and Dylan Brown. Suggs has pitched in 34.1 innings, started the five games he has played in. He has a record of 1-2. Suggs is leading the Hurricane pitchers with 30 strikeouts and 7.86 strikeouts per game. Shelton started all six games played in so far. He has pitched in 26.2 innings and has struck out 23, 7.76 strikeouts per game. Freshman Brown has made five appearances, pitching in 7.1 innings. He has recorded six strikeouts, giving him 7.36 strikeouts per game. Wittmus has pitched in the most innings with 34.2, during six games. Wittmus has 27 strikeouts and 7.01 strikeouts per game. Stephen Eldridge and Josh Sanders are leading the Hurricanes with 20 hits each. Five of Eldridge’s hits are doubles and one homerun, and has 17 RBIs. Sanders has completed 12 runs and brought in six runners. The Hurricanes are on the road for the majority of March with the exception of when Georgia College (March 7-8th) and Lander University (March 29-30th) are at Hurricane Field. For more information on GSW teams please visit www.gswcanes.com.
March 2014 SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES The Hurricanes Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages are great ways to keep up with your favorite teams. Like us at www.facebook.com/GSWHurricanes Follow us on Twitter @GSWAthletics and on Instagram @GSWHurricanes
SOFTBALL BRINGS IT HOME
Softball is off to a strong start with 12-6 overall record. The Lady ‘Canes are currently on a three game winning streak. The remaining home games during the month of March include: West Georgia, Anderson University, Palm Beach Atlantic, Francis Marion University, Columbus State, USC Aiken, and Lander University. The Lady ‘Canes start their conference games on Mach 8th against UNC Pembroke. On March 26th, Lady ‘Cane Field will be decked out in pink accessories as the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority presents a PINK OUT. On March 30th, the GSW StudentAthlete Advisory Committee will present Make-AWish Day during the Lander University game. Lady ‘Canes to be on the watch for are Nellie Moore, Keri Tompkins, Mason Moreland, Chelsea Littlejohn, Jordan Miller, Lauren Thrasher, Allison Pastor and Ashley Cavender. Nellie Moore is leading GSW with four home runs and doubles; she has also recorded 14 runs, and 15 hits. Keri Tompkins has added two homeruns and three doubles. Chelsea Littlejohn is a force to be reckoned with after recording one homerun, two triples, and one double during her 17 at bats making seven runs and six hits. Mason Moreland has eight hits and runs, and has recorded two triples. Jordan Miller, Hayley Knight, and Allison Pastor are solid contributors with batting averages over.375. Lauren Thrasher has proven to be a valuable utility player making appearances on base as well as in the shortstop position. Thrasher has recorded one homerun and triple and two doubles. While on the mound, Thrasher has pitched in 3.2 innings, striking out four batters. Ashley Cavender has pitched 51.1 striking out 4.50 per game. Cavender and Pastor split credit for a no hitter in the first game of the Fort Valley State doubleheader on February 21st.
Volume 5, Issue 3 TENNIS PICKS IT UP
Men’s Tennis first match was during the first week of February. The overall record is 2-5, the Hurricanes are currently on a two game losing streak. Abel Acuna and Oliver Marshall are both on a 2-4 overall singles record. Senior Stephen Moore also has two wins with a record of 2-3. Valentine Demande and Jake Koonce are stable teammates in the Doubles arena, with an overall record of 3-3. Women’s Tennis also had their first match in the beginning of February. The overall record is 3-4, the Lady ‘Canes are on a one game winning streak. Anna Kate Shaw is leading with the most wins, with a record of 3-3. Jamie Thomas is the next in the singles category with 2-2 overall record. Carly Cangelosi and Victoria Ondo are holding things together on the doubles side, with an overall record of 2-3. The Hurricane’s men and women’s tennis will be on the road for the rest of March. With the exception of the women’s team playing at home against Montevallo and Clayton State on March 15th and 16th.
GOLF TAKES A SWING
Men’s Golf has begun its second tournament of the spring season. March 3rd-4th the Hurricanes will be competing in the Doublegate Collegiate Invitational hosted by Darton College (3 rounds in Albany, Ga.) In the first tournament of the season, the Hurricanes tied for 8th place with Belmont Abbey in the Spring Kickoff Intercollegiate against 15 schools. The Hurricanes jumped five spots from day 1. Anders Olsson led GSW with a 1-under 70 in the final round to finish tied for 11th overall in the 84-player field with a 4-over 217. Keep up with the Golf team on Twitter at @GSW_GOLF.
See you in April!