SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference announced its April athletes of the month today, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month. The athletes of the month are nominated by each member institution and selected by the conference office.
BASEBALL PLAYER
Marty Gantt, College of Charleston, Sr., CF
Gantt led the Cougars during April with a .426 batting average as he reached base in all but one game in the month. Gantt sported five three-hit games and tallied nine hits in a series sweep against The Citadel. The senior tallied a team-best 16 runs and posted eight doubles to lead the team with a .656 slugging percentage. He also drew 14 walks, with four intentional, for an on-base percentage of .539, while stealing 12 bases. Gantt made several diving catches in centerfield as he recorded 40 putouts against only one error.
Other Nominees: Daniel Kassouf (Appalachian State), Nick Orvin (The Citadel), Drew Gadaire (Davidson), Ryan Kinsella (Elon), Scooter Williams (Georgia Southern), C.K. Irby (Samford), Tyler White (Western Carolina) and Mac Doyle (Wofford).
BASEBALL PITCHER
Ryan Arrowood Appalachian State, Sr., RHP
Arrowood was 4-0 during the month of April, notching SoCon victories over College of Charleston, Furman, Georgia Southern and Wofford. The senior did not allow more than two earned runs in any start while working at least seven innings each time out. He totaled more strikeouts (26) than hits allowed (21) while recording a 1.61 ERA. Arrowood limited opponents to a .212 batting average during his four starts for the Mountaineers who took over first-place in the conference standings and reentered the national rankings at No. 28 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll.
Other Nominees: Ryan West (College of Charleston), Ryan Hines (The Citadel), Henry Sisson (Davidson), Kyle Webb (Elon), Justin Hess (Georgia Southern), Josh Martin (Samford), Preston Hatcher (Western Carolina) and Brandon Yarusi (Wofford).
MEN'S GOLF
Stephan Jaeger, Chattanooga, Sr.
The first player to earn SoCon Golfer of the Year honors three times, Jaeger made his final SoCon Tournament memorable by cruising to an 11-shot victory at the league championship in Charleston, S.C. Jaeger's victory was one of historic proportions as his nine-under par total of 207 placed him 11 shots ahead of second place Brannan Hudson (+2) of Wofford and Chris Robb of Chattanooga. That margin tied for the largest margin of victory in tournament history with conference legend and former PGA golfer Brad Faxon, who tallied an 11-shot win in 1983 while competing for Furman. Jaeger entered the final round with a six-shot lead over the competition and proceeded to shoot the best round of the day and second-best of the tournament, trailing only his own 66 in round one.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Jordan Britt, Chattanooga, So.
After finishing as the runner-up at the SoCon Championship during her freshman season, Britt did one spot better in 2011, winning the title by three strokes over 32nd-ranked Fanny Cnops of UNCG. At the difficult Moss Creek North Course in Hilton Head Island, S.C., Britt fashioned three solid rounds, including a one-under par 71 in round two, to lead the Mocs to the team title for the third consecutive season.
Other Nominee: Fanny Cnops (UNCG).
SOFTBALL PLAYER
Erin Foster, Western Carolina, Sr., OF
Erin Foster blasted eight of her season-high 17 home runs and tallied 19 RBIs in April. She finished the month with a .417 batting average, 23 hits, 20 runs and three doubles while she tallied a 12-game hitting streak. The senior outfielder reached base safely in 16 of the Catamounts' 17 games and drew eight walks. In 56 at-bats, Foster only struck out four times. Foster hit two or more RBIs in a game five and had three RBIs in a game twice. She also recorded multiple hit games in eight games last month. The Salisbury, N.C., native finished April with a .893 slugging percentage and a .492 on base percentage.
Other Nominees: Meghan Smith (Appalachian State), Carly Corthell (College of Charleston), Tomeka Watson (Elon), Nikki Legg (Furman), Madison Dickey (Samford) and Michelle Fuzzard (Chattanooga).
SOFTBALL PITCHER
Taylor Deason, Chattanooga, Fr., RHP
Deason posted a 8-1 record in the circle after 57.2 innings of work and compiled a 2.18 ERA. The freshman from Clarksville, Tenn., recorded two shutouts in April as well as a save. The rookie struck out a month-high seven batters against Samford and tallied six or more on two other occasions throughout April.
Other Nominees: Hope Klicker (College of Charleston) and Allie Miles (Georgia Southern).
MEN'S TENNIS
Kyle Parker, College of Charleston, Jr.
Parker led the College of Charleston men's tennis team to an 8-1 record in the month of April including its first Southern Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth since 2003. He went nearly perfect at No. 3 singles (7-1 overall, 5-1 SoCon) and at No. 1 doubles (7-1 overall, 6-0 SoCon) with teammate Mickael Trintignac. Parker and Trintignac were honored on the All-SoCon First Team in doubles which marked his first career all-conference award. The Cougar tandem were ranked No. 66 in the country in the Campbell's/ITA Collegiate Tennis Doubles Rankings released on April 17 to become the first CofC duo to make an appearance in the national rankings since Sagi Zakin and Henrico DuPlessis in 2002.
Other Nominees: Steve Kardendal (Appalachian State), David Orces (The Citadel), Stefan Fortman (Elon), Andrew Domsky (Georgia Southern), Orcun Seyrek (UNCG), Elliot Barnwell (Samford) and Manuel Barroetavena (Chattanooga).
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Kelly Kambourelis, So., College of Charleston
Kambourelis led the College of Charleston women's tennis team to an impressive 9-1 record in the month of April as well as the program's highest-ever national ranking at No. 60 in the Campbell's/ITA Collegiate Tennis Team Rankings. The Cougars also captured their fourth straight Southern Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in the process. Kambourelis went undefeated at No. 2 singles (10-0 overall, 5-0 SoCon) and at No. 2 doubles (8-0 overall, 5-0 SoCon) with teammates Jenny Falcone and Christin Newman. The sophomore garnered the SoCon's Most Outstanding Player honors at the league's tournament, going 3-0 at No. 2 singles versus seventh-seeded Elon in the quarterfinals, third-seeded Furman in the semifinals and top-seeded UNCG in the finals.
Other Nominees: Gabby Gabriel (Appalachian State), Frida Jansaker (Elon), Paola Garrido (Georgia Southern), Niltooli Wilkins (UNCG), Stephanie N'tcha (Samfor), Kaylene Chadwell (Chattanooga) and Ainhoa Iglesias Diaz (Western Carolina).
Southern Conference April Athletes of the Month
Baseball Player Marty Gantt, College of Charleston
Baseball Pitcher Ryan Arrowood, Appalachian State
Men's Golf Stephan Jaeger, Chattanooga
Women's Golf Jordan Britt, Chattanooga
Softball Player Erin Foster, Western Carolina
Softball Pitcher Taylor Deason, Chattanooga
Men's Tennis Kyle Parker, College of Charleston
Women's Tennis Kelly Kambourelis, College of Charleston