LIVINGSTON, Ala. —University of West Alabama junior Emily White was tabbed to the 2008 Gulf South Conference Eastern Division Pre Season Softball Team, released by the league office on Tuesday

White, a righthanded pitcher and first baseman, turned in a stellar sophomore season in the circle and at the plate.  The Ragland, Ala.-native finished the campaign with a team-high ten complete games while striking out 116 batters in her 151.1 innings pitched a season ago.  Offensively, White connected on 43 hits, ten of which were home runs.

Freshman Kelli Hartley was named to the 2008 GSC Softball Top Newcomers list in the conference’s initial season release.  Hartley, a product from Tuscaloosa, Ala. and played her prep ball at Tuscaloosa Academy.  She was a four-year letterwinner at TA and earned All-State status in 2007 after posting a 23-11 record in the circle.  Hartley will see time at shortstop and in the circle in her rookie campaign with the Tigers.  Junior College transfer Courtney Gordon was also listed in the newcomers list.  Gordon, from Columbus, Miss., joins the softball program after two years at Meridian Community College.  At MCC, she ranked third on the team in batting average with a .356 clip.  Gordon was the team leader in RBIs and was named All-District and All-State both seasons at MCC.

As a team, the Tigers were picked sixth by the division coaches while Eastern Division foe UAH was picked to win the overall GSC crown.  Valdosta State is the favorite in the East along with UAM in the West. 

The Tigers will open the 2008 campaign and the Will Atkinson era on Friday, Feb. 8, hosting the UWA Invitational.  The Red and White’s season-opening game will be at 2 p.m. at the UWA Softball Complex, taking on North Georgia College and State.