Softball

Softball Welcomes Nine Newcomers For The 2024 Season

Posted: Nov 08, 2023

AMERICUS, Ga. -- Georgia Southwestern State University head softball coach Nicole Levering has signed nine players to her 2024 class after a record-breaking season that saw the Lady Canes earn the most wins in program history and make the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. Georgia Southwestern's 2024 class is loaded with talent from three different states and features three players from the state of Georgia. The class also features a Division I transfer and adds to a roster that kept its core from the 2023 season.

GSW returns four players who were named to the PBC All-Conference team and one player named to the All-Region team, and Player of the Year.

Second basemen and starting pitcher Zoe Willis was awarded First Team All-Region and First Team All-Conference, and National Player of the year. A senior from Pine Mountain Ga., finished last season a team high .447 batting average also led the team in home runs (25) and was second on the team in hits (68). She started 16 games as a pitcher she led the team in innings pitched (104.2). She was 14-3 in the circle with a 2.54 ERA totaling 99 strikeouts.

Isabel Marcotte a junior from Wichita, Kan. she was named to the first team All-Peach Belt Conference. Marcotte finished last season with a .315 average finished second in home runs (15), and third in RBIs (45) and had 301 put outs.

Savana Bradford Bradford a junior from Colquitt, Ga. Bradford led the Hurricanes in wins (17), strikeouts (131) and innings pitched (143.1) while pitching two shutouts with a 2.49 ERA.

Lacey Rutledge a junior shortstop from Monticello, Ga finished the 2023 season third in average (.341), third in hits (61), second in stolen bases (11) she also had 80 putouts and 90 assists.

Newcomers

 

 

     Graceanne Spears

  • Spears comes to GSW as a transfer from Georgia Southern University
  • Three time Region 8 pitcher of the year
  • Panahndle Conference pitcher of the year
  • First team All-Panhandle 
  • First team All-State
  • Spears is a junior pitcher from Opp, Ala.                                                                                      

 Marisa Mellone  

  • Mellone comes to GSW as a transfer from Hillsborough State College
  • Sun Sentinel Palm Beach post athlete of the year
  • 2023 FCSAA Conference pitcher of the year
  • Named 2023 First team All-Conference
  • 2023 First team All-State
  • Named 2023 team MVP
  • Malone is a junior pitcher from Jensen Beach, Fla

 Rebecca Hazard

  • Hazard comes to GSW as a transfer from Hillsborough State College
  • Named 2021 Distinguished Christian High School Athlete award
  • Named 2021 TSSAA Middle Region 3 All-District
  • Hit .429 with 7 home runs, and 43 RBIs last season
  • Hazard is a junior C/3B from Columbia, Tenn

 Malone Aldridge

  • Aldridge comes to GSW as a transfer from Georgia Highlands College
  • Named to the All-State team
  • Made the All-Region team 
  • Second on the Chargers in doubles (10), and on base percentage (.422)
  • Played for the Firecrackers club team under coach Scott McDonald
  • Aldridge is a junior outfielder from LaGrange, Ga

 Brittany Michael

  • Michael comes to GSW as a transfer from Tallahassee Community College
  • National JUCO pitcher of the week as a freshman
  • NJCAA D1 Softball Pitcher of the week 
  • Second Team All-Panhandle Conference in 2022
  • Named Panhandle Conference Pitcher of the week
  • Named All-Panhandle 2nd team
  • Recorded 107 strikeouts with a 2.22 ERA
  • Michael is a junior pitcher from Fleming Island, Fla

 Brooke Michael

  • Michael joins GSW as a transfer from Tallahassee Community College 
  • Named 2nd team All-Panhandle Conference
  • Appeared in 37 games for the Eagles
  • Hit 3 home runs, and 19 RBIs 
  • She carried a .954 fielding percentage
  • Michael is a junior catcher from Fleming Island, Fla

 

 Maggie McDonald

  • Maggie joins GSW as an incoming freshman from Troup County High School
  • As a freshman she was named pitcher of the year and made the Honor Roll
  • Named offense player of the year as a sophomore
  • She was named first team All-Region her junior and senior seasons
  • Played for Easton College Prep club team 
  • Named team MVP with Easton College Prep
  • Maggie is from LaGrange, Ga

 

 

 Simone Gillispie

  • Simone joins GSW as an incoming freshman from Glenwood School
  • Hit .484 in her senior season
  • All-Area 1st Team in 2021
  • All-State State 2nd Team
  • All-Bi City 2nd Team 2021
  • All-State 1st Team 2022
  • All-Area Honorable Mention 2022
  • Junior AISA All-Star 2022
  • Senior AISA All-Star 2023
  • ASWA All-State First Team 2023
  • Opelika-Auburn News All-Area First Team 2023
  • All-Chatt Valley First Team 2023
  • She played Easton club team where she was named 2022 Defensive Player of the Year
  • Simone is from Salem, Ala

 

 

 

 JK Shivers

  • JK joins GSW as an incoming freshman from Marion County High School
  • Named All-Region catcher
  • Kinetic Scholar Athlete
  • 2nd team All-State catcher
  • JK is from Buena Vista, Ga.