Blazers to host Rams in season opener

A rivalry in South Georgia will be renewed Saturday.

Valdosta State hosts Albany State in the season opener as the two teams square off for the first time since the Blazers’ 30-27 victory in 2011.

With both schools constantly crossing recruiting paths and being less than 100 miles apart, the upcoming matchup will surely revive the bare-knuckle rivalry that spans over 30 years.

Florida International transfer quarterback Jake Medlock has won the starter competition and will lead the Blazers’ offense in Game 1 against the tenacious Rams’ defense.

For Medlock, he’ll start his new chapter at VSU – where transfer quarterbacks have prospered before.

“It’s going to be good to get out there with my new teammates,” Medlock said.  “When you go against a fast defense (in ASU), you go right at them. Don’t try to run east and west with them, you go north and south. We’ve been grinding – blood, sweat, and tears – it’s going to be fun.”

The new quarterback will also be the punter as he did last season for the Panthers.

The Rams hold a talent of their own at quarterback with senior and preseason SIAC Player of the Year Frank Rivers.

Rivers threw for over 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.

“We can’t let him get outside the pocket, and if he does he’s going to hurt you,” VSU Head Coach David Dean said. “The whole thing is keeping him in the pocket, and not letting him use his athletic ability outside. We know he’s going to get some pass yards. The thing is that we can’t let him beat us with his legs.”

VSU’s young defense will be tested against the speedy and experienced ASU offense, which returns eight of eleven starters from last season.

The Black Swarm will be tested against
ASU's Frank Rivers (Albany Herald)  

The Blazers only return twelve starters on offense and defense.

Seniors Isaiah Grasham,Tevin Davis, and Justin Williams are three of the twelve returners expected to lead the Black Swarm starting this Saturday.

“I think we’re prepared for anything they throw at us,” Williams said. “I been really exciting since I turned on the film, I was ready to play. I heard we sold nine thousand tickets so it’s going to be a big crowd. I am really looking forward to the atmosphere.”

The Blazers are 7-2 in season openers in the last nine seasons with two of those wins coming against ASU. 

The last time VSU opened its season with a victory over ASU, they went on to become national champions (2007).

“Everything is in the bag now, hopefully we’re ready to play,” Dean said. “I know they’re excited about getting out on the field for the first time as a team.” 

Column: Five Burning Questions for VSU football team in 2014

For some teams, having a mediocre record and not making the playoffs is ordinary; Valdosta State isn’t one of those programs. The Blazers, who finished 6-4 and missed the postseason last season, have different plans this time around. VSU takes its first step toward moving on when they host Albany State on Sept.6. The Blazers went from preseason No.1 in the country in 2013 to being predicted to finish third in the Gulf South Conference this year. The mix of inexperienced players and loss of standouts has dropped outside expectations considerably. Nevertheless, being out of the spotlight will be an advantage if the Blazers so choose. Here are five key questions surrounding VSU football in 2014.

1. Can the offensive line build on last season? 

Head Coach David Dean is preparing for his eighth season at the helm.

The departure of the championship offensive line made the new o-linemen the topic of discussion last season,however,the new group performed better than most expected. Jack Bradley, Austin Thompson, and others proved many wrong as they stepped up to the challenge when called upon last season. Led by seniors Felei Tauave and Jesse Yancey, the o-line has more depth this season which allows for a smoother rotation, subbing guys in and out. Game-time experience is invaluable and has been monumental in the improvement up front. Last season, these five guys quickly got acclimated as starters in the Gulf South Conference.How good can they be now? 

2.Can Cedric O'Neal perform any better? 

Cedric O’Neal has been one of the best running backs in Division II. The junior running back has had two excellent seasons and his team could use another – more than ever. Head Coach David Dean hasn’t been shy about voicing his certainty that O’Neal will have ample opportunities to make big plays. An effective running game has been the Blazers’ saving grace and they cannot afford to let it slip. The dynamic tandem of O’Neal and running back Austin Scott should lead the Blazers to victories once again. If O’Neal, the preseason All-GSC selection,can duplicate his usual production, it’s going to make a huge difference in the offense’s fluidity.

3.Who is going to catch? 

There is no timetable set when Jake Medlock or Kaleb Nobles will be named starting quarterback, but the true question mark lies in the Blazers’ young receiving core. The bad news: only two of the 27 wide receivers are seniors. Neither seniors, RJ Davis or Connor Wetherington, have played regularly in an entire season at that. Willie Downs, Seantavious Jones, and Regginald Lewis are big-time playmakers whose missing presence will be felt. The good news: the Blazers have acquired an outstanding player in junior-transfer wide receiver Shane Henderson. Henderson arrives to Valdosta after breaking records at Allan Hancock College (Calif.). Coach Dean says Henderson is first player he has ever coached that has immediately become a leader--revered by teammates--despite not playing a snap yet for VSU. The spread offense thrives off deepness and consistent play from the wide-out position. It could be a really frustrating year for the new quarterback…

4. How do you replace Chris Pope and Jeremy Grable? 

The loss of VSU's all-time leading tackler Chris Pope and Jeremy Grable weakens the core of the Black Swarm. It’s vital that this season’s starting linebackers like Justin Williams and Rodney Hunter rise to the occasion. Williams has potential to a have huge senior year after starting 10 games in 2013, finishing third in tackles behind Pope and Grable.Williams and linebacker Kenny Murphy are a part of a small group of returnees on defense this season and must lead by example. VSU has an upside at this position with young, improving linebackers who have already begun making a name for themselves.

5.Will Isaiah Gresham get help? 

Senior safety Isaiah Gresham is the anchor of the Blazers’ inexperienced secondary. Gresham is no longer surrounded by departed seniors in Manny Evans, Lance Holder, Chris Caspari and Ashton Ballard. He is the lone returnee that coach Dean says VSU is counting him to fill in that leadership role. The Blazers bring several new faces from freshman to transfers to their secondary. Defensive backs are fighting for playing time more than ever in camp now. There is still no telling who will be a stand out containing deep field alongside

Gresham.Questions are about to be answered on how VSU’s secondary will fare against noted offenses in the Gulf South Conference.

Column: Former pro takes the helm of VSU soccer

She has never been a head coach before, but that’s okay.

Every dog has their day or perhaps I should say owl, which is more fitting.  

Former Kennesaw State assistant Rebecca Nolin was hired last week as the new head coach of the Valdosta State women’s soccer team.

I’ve yet to meet or speak with Becks (as many call her), however, here’s what I do know about the former Chelsea captain.  

The 31-year old garners oodles of knowledge after coaching the Owls for the last four years under esteemed coach Rob King.

Before that, she spent three seasons in the professional women’s ranks. She played two seasons with the Atlanta Silverbacks, where she helped guide the team to division titles in back-to-back seasons.   

Then in 2010, after one season with the inaugural Atlanta Beat franchise, Nolin called it quits from the pros to begin her career on the sidelines.

Nolin returned to her alma mater to coach in 2009. Nolin was a four-year starter and team captain for the Owls (2003-2006). KSU won the Division II national championship in 2003.

She is a proven player, who has been coached by some of the best, and most importantly, she’s a winner.  

The latest acquisition comes two months after Coach Mel Heinz skip town to pursue a different, more lucrative career path.  Heinz serves as manger of sales and accounting for her brother’s expanding business now.

Luckily for new coach Nolin, Heinz left the team in a bright place for her successor.

The bar has been set by Heinz, who led VSU to the national tournament twice in three seasons, and will only get higher.

With the return of a strong senior group including Abbi Edwards, Deysla Reyes, Blakely McClellan, Karly Lentz and goalkeeper Olivia Mills, the Blazers undoubtedly again will be a contending team in the Gulf South Conference.

The rise of young players like sophomores Nicole Polk and Zahimara Fantauzzi along with a sound recruiting class builds the anticipation for the fourth season of Blazer soccer.

So who’s ready? I sure am.

No. 6 Valdosta State heads back down to Pensacola

Two of the greatest minds in softball will clash when West Florida hosts No. 6 Valdosta State in a three-game series this weekend.

Blazers’ head coach Thomas Macera eclipsed the 400-win mark Tuesday night, yet his counterpart, 21st year UWF coach Tami Cyr holds the most wins of all-time in the Gulf South Conference (854).

Cyr is sixth among active coaches on the Division II all-time wins list, and her squad faces Spring Hill in a doubleheader Thursday before hosting the Blazers.

VSU is riding a three-game win streak after redeeming themselves in the final game of the Shorter series last weekend before sweeping Georgia Southwestern in a doubleheader Tuesday.

UWF has struggled early-on against heavy competition, including shutouts to No. 24 Barry, Indianapolis and Florida Tech.

The Argos have plenty to handle against a Blazer team that’s been heating up as of late and is led by GSC Player of the Week Courtney Albritton, who leads the conference in runs scored (20) and home runs (6).

Expect Blazer pitcher Brianna Hancock, who recently picked up her sixth win, to take the start this weekend in either game one or two.  Hancock went 2-0 at the West Florida tournament that opened the season.

UWF is led by a senior/freshman duo for offensive production: veteran outfielder Caroline Kaston and new infielder Jessica Wilkerson.

On the mound, senior Taylor Bailey is a projected starter, which will be her ninth start this season while freshman pitcher Rebecca Hein attempts to earn her fourth win.

A sweep over the Argos would give the Blazers a .500 conference record after losing two of the three to SU.

The Argos also lost two of three games to North Alabama in their conference opener, so both teams are looking to gain traction approaching the heart of the schedule.

 The three-game series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 5 p.m., and the final game is Sunday at 2 p.m. 

VSU softball prepared for Eckerd Tournament

They’re good. Everyone knows they’re good−and this weekend we’ll see how good.

No. 6 Valdosta State awaits a true evaluation of its caliber in the upcoming Eckerd Tournament this weekend in Clearwater, Fla.

Several new players, like freshmen starters catcher Morgan Buter and second basemen Chelsea Canara, will receive their first dose of fierce, competitive tournament play.

“I think it’s going to be a real challenge for us,” sophomore first basemen Kiley Rusen said.

The Blazers open against Rollins College on Friday, playing games against No. 13 Tampa and Florida Southern Saturday, and on Sunday VSU concludes with Palm Beach Atlantic and Nova Southeastern.

VSU’s last opponent, Flagler, fellow Gulf South Conference members Lee, West Florida and Shorter, Linderwood, Colorado Christian, host Eckerd College and Armstrong Atlantic (who sent the Blazers home in the NCAA tournament), will also be competing this weekend.

UT will likely start pitcher Katie Cox on Saturday; the Darktronics Player of the Year recipient is known as one of the best in the nation. FSC opens its 2014 season this weekend.

PBAU also opens its season this weekend and are the Blazers first game of their last doubleheader.

VSU’s final matchup is against NSU. The last meeting was in 2012, when the Blazers swept the Sharks in a doubleheader.

As usual, the Eckerd Tournament is held at Eddie C. Moore Complex, Clearwater’s national award-winning softball facility.

“We’ve played six games and we got five big ones this weekend,” Macera said. “We’re playing some really good teams down there. We got to work this week and hopefully it pays off.”

Freshman Focus: Chelsea Canara

Age is nothing but a number.

VSU Athletics

This expression is also the mantra of newcomer Chelsea Canara.

The freshman phenom went hitless in her first collegiate doubleheader this past weekend in Pensacola, yet assisted her team by driving in four runs as the Blazers split against Midwestern State.

In the following doubleheader against Southern Arkansas, Canara’s first hit was a RBI double in the second inning of game one.

Her next at-bat was a base-clearing grand slam that pushed the Blazers ahead to seal the win.

The Milton,Ga. native batted .750 and nine RBIs last weekend–earning her Gulf South Conference Player of the Week honors–in just her first four collegiate games.

“She’s very calm out there,” head coach Thomas Macera said. “That’s the thing−she’s very mature for her age. Second is a very tough position to play and she just does a very good job at it.”

Canara’s poise is credited to growing up with her two older siblings, who are former softball players.

“I take after them,” Canara said. “I just try to relax and forget the nerves. I’ve just always been like that.”

The veterans on the team have been helpful since Canara took the position during the unofficial fall season, and as a result, she is quickly mastering the learning curve.

Canara went 3-7 with two RBIs in her first home appearance, sweeping Flagler in a doubleheader Feb. 4.

The GSC preseason top newcomer recipient is excited to compete against some of the nation’s best this weekend in Clearwater, Fla.

So far, so good for VSU’s new second basemen.

“She’s done a remarkable job,” Macera said. “She’s not only hitting the ball very well, she’s playing really good at second base. Last year Kiley [Rusen] came in and did well. The year before, [Courtney] Albritton came in and did really well. That’s all you can hope for when you bring in some of these freshmen…and it’s tough because it’s very competitive.”

Blazers cruise past Saints

No. 6 Valdosta State softball head coach Thomas Macera says that pitcher Rebeckah Kiser must play at a high-level if the Blazers are going to reclaim a national championship title this season.

The Gulf South Conference top newcomer honoree pitched a complete game Tuesday afternoon as VSU came back to defeat Flagler College 6-3 in Game two of the doubleheader.

“She did good,” Macera said. “She kept us in the game and that's all we can ask from her.”

Both games began with the Blazers behind before their comeback rallies that sealed their wins.

Similar to Game one, FC got off to a hot start as the Saints drove in two-runs in their first inning.

With a runner in scoring position, Blazers third basemen Hannah Strickland mishandled Mackenzie Conley's ground ball, which allowed FC's first run.

Saints catcher Molly Whittington, on the ensuing at-bat, recorded a RBI single. Before the Blazers first plate appearances, they were at a 2-0 disadvantage.

Strickland answered on her first at-bat of the game with a solo home run to deep center field. Strickland only had one homer last season.

With the Saints up 2-1 in the fourth, Conley tallied a solo home run but it would be shadowed by the Blazers five-run inning.

During the bottom half, a April Collins single ignited the scoring frenzy, the base hit led to a run scored due to a Saints fielding error.

Albritton was walked next, which set up GSC Player of the Week honoree Chelsea Canara's RBI single.

The score was tied at three before sophomore first basemen Kiley Rusen blasted a three-run homer to put her team ahead 6-3.

Right fielder Fran Johnson extended the lead in the sixth with a two-run double.

With two runners on, Saints pinch hitter Mallory Murphy homered in seventh but it wasn't enough to spark a late-game rally.

VSU opens the tournament against Rollins on Feb. 7  

Blazers victorious in home opener

It only took a few innings for Valdosta State to start looking like the sixth best team in the country.

A seven-run scoring onslaught in the third inning pushed the Blazers to a strong lead that was enough to outlast Flager College 13-5 in the Game one home opener at Blazer Park.

No. 6 VSU starting pitcher Brianna Hancock went 3.2 innings before being relieved by Caitlyn Calhoun, who picks up her second win of the season.

After giving up two base hits and hitting a batter, Hancock found herself in early trouble in the second inning.

With the bases loaded, an errant throw by freshman catch Morgan Butler allowed the Saints to drive in the contest's first run.

Flager second baseman Lauren Bessent's base hit single during the next at bat gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.

The Blazers found their stroke in the third inning however, tallying seven runs which gave them a comfortable lead after they entered down two runs.

Senior left fielder April Collins sparked the onslaught with the first of the side's six hits.

Gulf South Conference two-time Player of the Year recipient Courtney Albritton went yard thereafter for her third home run already this season.

Freshman second baseman Chelsea Canara didn't waste anytime to go yard herself on the next at bat.

Canara's second long ball of the season gave VSU a 3-2 advantage. And the Blazers were far from done.

Rusen kept the scoring train rolling with a base hit, which set up designated hitter Karson King two-run shot that sailed over the left field fence.

Saints starting pitcher Kalyn Loverich's outing came to an end after walking VSU shortstop Shelby Altman on the following at bat.

Tinsley Smith replaced Loverich on the mound but right fielder Fran Johnson made the most of being the first batter Smith faced upon entering the game.

Johnson recorded a triple that drove in two runs extending VSU's lead more before the side finally ended.

Blazers designated hitter Kiley Rusen went yard for her first home run of the year to lead off the fourth inning. Bessett drove in her second RBI during the bottom of the inning.

In the fifth, with the score 8-3, the Saints managed to cut their deficit on center fielder Melanie Oliver's two-RBI single, their first runs since the second inning.

Albritton and Rusen both tacked on another RBI each on back to back hits to open the sixth inning.

Altman concluded game one (mercy rule) with a 2-RBI homer - her first home run of the season.

VSU finished with 10 hits compared to FC's five.

Loverich, who came into the game following a shutout win on Sunday, loses her second game of the season (1-2). 

No.6 VSU softball set to begin 2014 quest

The Blazers open their 2014 softball season this weekend in Pensacola, Fla., with their eyes set on reclaiming the national championship title, and the expectations haven’t changed.

“I want a good start, a good middle, and a good finish,” nine-year Head Coach Thomas Macera said. “We don’t talk about a good start; we talk about winning every game we play. We’re here to win softball games. When we go out there, we approach every game the same.”

Macera, like usual, advises his players to focus on one game at a time, starting with Saturday’s season opener, which he says should be nothing but the first stepping stone toward their ultimate goal.

No.6 VSU begins the season in full swing in the West Florida Tournament. The Blazers open against Midwestern State, one of the nation’s top offensive teams (they recorded 86 home runs last season). The second game of the doubleheader on Sunday is against Southern Arkansas.

The Blazers come into this year’s campaign with a chip on their shoulder after falling short to Armstrong Atlantic early in last season’s NCAA Division II Softball Championships.

With 12 new players on the squad, mastering the learning curve is imperative as the Blazers compete against their toughest opponents of the regular season in the first two weeks, which are followed by a rigorous conference schedule.

Despite having won a record five straight conference titles, coaches voted that VSU will finish second in conference behind Alabama-Huntsville this season.

Before heading back south to Clearwater, Fla., for the Eckerd Tournament next weekend, the Blazers face Flager in the home opener Feb. 4 at Steel’s Diamond field.

VSU returns seven key contributors from last season including four seniors: All-Gulf South Conference honoree Shelby Altman, pitcher Brianna Hancock, and infielders Hannah Strickland and Karson King.

Also returning is sophomore infielder Kiley Rusen, junior outfielder Fran Johnson and two-time Player of the Year recipient Courtney Albritton (second baseman).

As a sophomore, Albritton led last season’s squad in batting average (.417), home runs (20), and runs batted in (57).

Albritton, Altman and Hancock were selected to the 2014 preseason All-GSC team.

The departure of pitchers Hanna Lythberg (transferred to Winona State) and Kenzi Reed (graduated) this offseason was countered with the acquisition of Indian River State transfer Rebekah Kiser. The Blazers’ ace, Hancock, and sophomore Caitlyn Calhoun both return to the mound as well.

Kiser and freshman infielder Chelsea Canara were tabbed on the GSC top newcomers list as well.

While there is still doubt as to who will be starting in left field, the most daunting obstacle for the Blazers is replacing first team Academic All-District catcher Ashley Steinhilber. Steinhilber made the All-GSC softball second team last year.

Freshman catchers Morgan Butler and Kelly Gordon have been battling for the starting position all offseason. No decision has yet been made as to who will start.

“Steiny was a great catcher,” Macera said. “The catchers that we got will do well. Steiny sat her first year here; it took her a year to learn how to develop. This year we don’t have that luxury; we don’t have an older catcher, so those girls have to learn how to do it now.”

Butler is a Forsyth, Ga., native who had an impressive career at Mary Persons High. Gordon arrives to VSU from Geneva, Ill., where she too had a stellar multi-sport career at Geneva Community High.

“We’re ready to go if the game is tomorrow or next week,” Macera said. “You can only practice for so long until you finally have to go out there and produce or not. We’ll see what happens."