BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — West Florida’s Tanner Taylor, Delta State’s Adrian Byrd and Lee’s Casen Youngblood secured 2026 Gulf South Conference Baseball Weekly Awards presented by Athletic Solutions, following performances during the week of April 13-19.
GSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tanner Taylor, INF, Sr., West Florida
Taylor had a productive week at the plate as he hit .625 (10-for-16) with six RBI and four runs scored across a four-game slate. He also slugged .750 behind two doubles and posted a .647 on-base percentage. The senior had consecutive multi-hit games, highlighted by a 3-for-4 effort against Spring Hill which included four RBI and later a 3-for-5 performance with a double and an RBI at Mississippi College. Against MC, Taylor was a combined 7-for-12 (.583) at the dish with two RBI and four runs scored.
Other nominees: Taylor Bush, UAH; Kyle Hipp, AUM; Levi Lang, Delta State; Landon Franklin, Lee; Jake LaRocca, MC; Hudson Allen, Montevallo; Cade Martin, Trevecca; Nick Stamper, Union; Ryan Strachan, Valdosta State
GSC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Adrian Byrd, Sr., Delta State
Byrd was credited with an 11-0 victory over AUM last week, notching his consecutive complete game shutout and improving to 6-1 on the year. The senior left-hander tossed 11 strikeouts, one shy of his season-high, in seven innings and surrendered four hits and two balls. Facing 27 batters in performance, Byrd left AUM hitters with a .160 batting average to accompany his .000 ERA.
Other nominees: Cole Loftis, UAH; Dylan Van Meeteren, Lee; Dylan Cope, MC; Matthew Bullard, Montevallo; Eli Jackson, Union; Trey Jackson, Valdosta State
GSC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Casen Youngblood, 1B, Lee
The Flames first baseman was 5-for-11 (.455) at the plate over four games, while slugging .818 with a double and a home run. Youngblood also finished the week with one run scored, five RBI, and one drew one walk. The rookie’s week was highlighted by a three RBI effort in the GSC series opener with West Alabama, as he went 1-for-4 in a 8-6 game.
Other nominees: Rylan Moses, Trevecca; Chris Troyer, Union; Boomer Dunn, Valdosta State; Tyler Pierce, West Alabama
2026 GSC Baseball Weekly Awards
Player of the Week
Feb. 3: Zack Stokes, West Florida
Feb. 10: Rashad Robinson, West Alabama
Feb. 17: Elijah Ramsey, Union
Feb. 24: Jack Fitzgerald, Montevallo
Mar. 3: Cody Turner, Lee
Mar. 10: Alex Johnson, Mississippi College
Mar. 17: Cade Martin, Trevecca Nazarene
Mar. 24: Cody Turner, Lee
Mar. 31: Tucker Jones, Delta State
Apr. 7: Luke Collier, Lee
Apr. 14: Luke Collier, Lee
Apr. 21: Tanner Taylor, West Florida
Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 3: Eli Roberts, West Florida
Feb. 10: Jonah Smithson, Trevecca Nazarene
Feb. 17: Zach Wyatt, Montevallo
Feb. 24: Adrian Byrd, Delta State
Mar. 3: Baker Green, West Alabama
Mar. 10: Baker Green, West Alabama
Mar. 17: Ryan Sweeney, Trevecca Nazarene
Mar. 24: Zach Wyatt, Montevallo
Mar. 31: Cooper Cooksey, Mississippi College
Apr. 7: Zach Wyatt, Montevallo
Apr. 14: Evan Bloomer, Lee
Apr. 21: Adrian Byrd, Delta State
Freshman of the Week
Feb. 3: Mason Woolever, Montevallo
Feb. 10: Rylan Moses, Trevecca Nazarene
Feb. 17: Blake Westry, West Alabama
Feb. 24: Tucker Ricks, West Florida
Mar. 3: Will Langston, Mississippi College
Mar. 10: Rylan Moses, Trevecca Nazarene
Mar. 17: Tucker Ricks, West Florida
Mar. 24: Luke Holbrook, Montevallo
Mar. 31: Tucker Ricks, West Florida
Apr. 7: Will Langston, Mississippi College
Apr. 14: Seth Staggs, UAH
Apr. 21: Casen Youngblood, Lee