OXFORD, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference announced its 2025 softball all-conference teams and individual award winners. Honorees were selected by the conference’s 12 head coaches via an online poll.
West Florida’s Gianna Guerriero and Valdsota State’s Aniston Gano shared GSC Player of the Year accolades. Guerriero was also chosen for the Golden Glove Award. Trevecca Nazarene’s Ashlan Sensing was recognized as the Pitcher of the Year. Auburn Montgomery’s Reese Cauley and Mississippi College’s Blakely Gill split Freshman of the Year laurels, while AUM’s Scottie Wilkes Laney was voted Coach of the Year.
Eight of the Gulf South’s 12 teams had at least one representative across the two all-conference teams. Each squad UWF led the way with five honorees. AUM and Montevallo followed with four apiece, while UAH, Lee, Mississippi College each had three.
Guerriero had a productive season at the plate, hitting .428 with 49 runs, ranking second among GSC leaders in both categories. The senior was also second in conference in hits (74), while topping the league in stolen bases (37) and triples (nine). She is UWF's first UWF reciepient of the award since 2022 (Teala Howard).
Gano led the conference in home runs (17), on base percentage (.527), walks per game (0.71), and total bases (111). Her 44 runs batted in was second-best among Gulf South hitters as was her .782 slugging. She also led Valdosta State with 57 hits and a .401 batting average. Gano was seventh among NCAA DII leaders in home runs and 19th in OBP. The senior is the third Blazer to earn the award in five seasons following Abby Sulte (2024) and Nicole Pennington (2021).
Sensing was formidable in the circle this season posting a 20-8 record in 29 appearances with a 1.68 ERA. She tossed 191.2 innings and racked up 22 complete games with 154 strikeouts while surrendering 56 runs on 138 hits. As a result, Sensing led all GSC pitchers in walks allowed per seven innings (1.06) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.31), while ranking second in WHIP (0.87), victories, and third in innings pitched, ERA, and strikeouts. The senior is the first Trevecca student-athlete to garner an individual season-long award.
Cauley had a dominate first season for the Warhawks logging an 18-4 record with 24 appearances and 14 starts. She led the league in ERA (1.34), WHIP (0.81) and hits allowed per seven innings (4.08). Cauley threw 146.0 innings, 12 complete games, and 106 strikeouts. The rookie is AUM's first recipient of the award.
Gill had a standout rookie campaign starting all 49 games behind the plate for the Choctaws. Her numbers included a .409 batting average, .648 slugging, 38 RBI and 40 runs. She was also 13-for-16 in stolen base attempts and amassed 103 total bases. Among GSC leaders, Gill was among the top-10 while also leading the way with doubles. Gill is the first Choctaw to garner top freshman accolades for the season.
Wilkes Laney earned her first GSC coaching award. Under her direction, AUM won its first regular season title since 2022 after going 25-8 in league play and tallying a 34-10 record overall. The Warhawks ended the regular season ranked amid NCAA Division II top-10 in ERA, shutouts, stolen bases, and WHIP.
2025 GSC SOFTBALL SEASON AWARDS
Co-Player of the Year: Gianna Guerriero, West Florida & Aniston Gano, Valdosta State
Pitcher of the Year: Ashlan Sensing, Trevecca Nazarene
Co-Freshman of the Year: Reese Cauley, AUM & Blakely Gill, Mississippi College
Golden Glove: Gianna Guerriero, West Florida
Coach of the Year: Scottie Wilkes, AUM
First Team All-GSC
P – Ashlan Sensing, Trevecca Nazarene
P – Reese Cauley, AUM
P – Chelsia Newsome, AUM
C – Blakely Gill, Mississippi College
1B – Aniston Gano, Valdosta State#
2B – Marissa Mitchell, West Alabama*
3B – Madelyn England, Mississippi College
SS – Shelby Samples, Mississippi College#^
IF – Alexa Scalzo, Lee
OF – Chloe Baynes, AUM*!
OF – Gianna Guerriero, West Florida*
OF – Ana Macha, Lee!
OF – Morgan Jennings, Union
DP – Brianna Asmondy, Trevecca Nazarene
UT – Hannah Harper, West Florida^
Second Team All-GSC
P – Haley Guffey, West Florida
P – Taylor Lloyd, Montevallo
P – Camryn Bailey, Mississippi College!‡
C – Erin Moon, West Florida^
1B – Maddie Cartron, UAH
2B – Emma Brice, West Florida
3B – Taylor Clegg, West Alabama#
SS – Rebecca Komers, AUM
IF – Lawren Hayes, UAH*^
OF – Haley Ann Frank, AUM#‡
OF – Bentlee Stiner, Montevallo
OF – Brittany Slaten, UAH
OF – Javaria Smith, Lee‡
DP – Becca Benton, Montevallo
UT – Molly Pendley, Montevallo
* 2024 First Team All-GSC
# 2024 Second Team All-GSC
^ 2023 First Team All-GSC
! 2023 Second Team All-GSC
‡ 2022 Second Team All-GSC