April 2014 Volume 5, Issue 4 INSIDE THE EYE OF THE STORM Georgia Southwestern State University is in the coming to the end of the 2013-14 season. The Eye of the Storm is your monthly source for all of the ongoings 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.
FINISH AT THE BIG DANCE The men’s basketball has completed the 2013-14 regular season at 19-9, 11-8 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Hurricanes matched the 2010-11 record of 20-9, after the PBC Tournament and the NCAA tournament. GSW reached the second round of the PBC Tournament before, the PBC Champs, USC Aiken knocked them out. The Hurricanes reached the NCAA tournament as a 6th seed in the Southeast Division where they played against fellow PBC foe Montevallo in Aiken, S.C. The team as a whole received many accolades during the season. The team was nationally ranked in blocks and received votes on the National Coaches Poll for five weeks. Alan Arnett, Johathan Brooks, and Daryl Davis were consistently at the top of the PBC rankings during the course of the season. All three were named to the PBC All-Team.
Brooks and Davis were named PBC Player of the Week, during the season. Jamon Hawkins was named All-Tournament. After competing in two
games, Hawkins averaged 19.0 points, 14-of-22 FG (63.6%), and 7-of-13 three-point FG (53.8%). For More GSW Hoops action you can follow men’s basketball on twitter @GSWHoops_ Canes.
PROGRESSIVE SEASON 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. As a team the women are ranked 6th in the nation for most steals as a team. The women’s team has already begun the grand search and try-out sessions for next year’s team.
BACK TO THE DIAMOND Baseball currently has a 10-20 overall and 5-13 Peach Belt Conference record. This has the Hurricanes placed 12th among the 13 baseball teams in the Peach Belt. The Hurricanes have some PBC stand outs. Evan Alderman is ranked fifth with a batting average of .400. Matt Suggs is ranked seventh in Strikeouts with 54 strikeouts. Zach Wittmus isn’t far behind in the strikeout category as he is tenth with 44 strikeouts, to date. Stephen Eldridge is also leading GSW with the second highest batting average of .330. Jarrod Taylor is currently leading the Hurricanes with ten doubles. If Taylor gets six more, he will beat the current record held by Trent Dooley back in 2010 with 15 doubles. This past weekend the Hurricanes went 2-1 in their series against #2 ranked Lander. Matt Suggs and Coty Graham were the pitchers who took credit for the wins. The first game of April gave GSW another win from freshman pitcher Zach Smith. The Hurricanes have labeled April 19th will be Senior Day to recognize the seven seniors on all their accomplishments.