BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference announced its softball preseason team prior to the start of the 2024 season. Mississippi College led all teams with four selections (Camryn Bailey, Kamryn Eaton, McCall Lee, Shelby Samples).
Alabama Huntsville (Kinley Adams, Katie Bracken, Lawren Hayes) and Auburn Montgomery (Molly Cobb, Chloe Derrick, Kat Fallen) followed with three honorees apiece. West Alabama (Ann Marie Stanbridge, Madison Wright) and West Florida (Hannah Harper and Erin Moon) had two selections. Union (Macey Neal) and Valdsota State (Abby Suite) each had one.
The conference also unveiled its "Newcomers to Watch" which listed 30 first-year GSC players. The 2024 list included eight freshmen and 22 college transfers with seven student-athletes from the Division I ranks.
2024 NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
The preseason All-GSC selections were chosen by a vote of the league's coaches. Student-athletes were picked regardless of position and coaches could not vote for their members of their own team. The newcomers were submitted by the each team.
Of the 16 players recognized on the preseason squad,13 were First Team All-GSC honorees last season. Five of the selections received NFCA All-America accolades while Mississippi College's Eaton is the only returning player mentioned honored as an College Sports Communicators Academic All-American in 2023.
The preseason lineup was headlined by the 2023 GSC Player, Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, with Mississippi College's Lee (Player), Alabama Huntsville's Bracken (Pitcher), and West Alabama's Stanbridge (Freshman) featured. Lee led the GSC in RBI (72) and doubles (19), while Stanbridge led the conference in home runs (21). Bracken was the led the GSC leader in ERA (1.50) and opposing batting average (.177).
The 2024 season begins February 1, with GSC play starting February 17 and wrapping up on April 28. Teams will be 10 conference opponents in a three-game series for a total of 30 GSC games. The entire 2024 schedule can be found here.
The GSC Softball Championship returns to Choccolocco Park and will be co-hosted by the City of Oxford, Ala., from May 1-4. The top eight teams in the standings will compete in the double-elimination tournament.
2024 GSC Softball Preseason Team
Kinley Adams, UAH, OF, Sr.*
Katie Bracken, UAH P, So.*
Lawren Hayes, UAH, INF, Jr.*
Molly Cobb, AUM, DP, Gr.#
Chloe Derrick, AUM, INF, Jr.*
Kat Fallen, AUM, INF, Sr.
Camryn Bailey, MC, P, So.
Kamryn Eaton, MC, DP, Jr.*
McCall Lee, MC, C, Sr.*
Shelby Samples, MC, OF, So.*
Macey Neal, UU, SS/3B, Sr.*
Abby Sulte, VSU, OF, Jr.*
Ann Marie Stanbridge, UWA, 1B, So.*
Madison Wright, UWA, P, Sr.*
Hannah Harper, UWF, P/1B, So.*
Erin Moon, UWF C, Jr.*
* 2023 First Team All-GSC
# 2023 Second Team All-GSC
A tie in-voting resulted in an extra position on the team
Players are sorted alphabetically by school