UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA ATHLETICS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The University of West Alabama had eight former student-athletes named to the Gulf South Conference Spring All-Decade Teams. Baseball placed five on the list, including East Division Coach, Player and Pitcher of the Decade, while softball added three selections.

Head Coach Gary Rundles nabbed coaching honors while leading the program to six consecutive GSC Tournaments, including the 2005 championship, four NCAA Regional appearances, two East Division crowns, made three-straight GSC Championship Game appearances. Rundles was also named the 2005 GSC Coach of the Year.

Former All-Americans Rob Dahlberg and Brandon Dill were among five unanimous selections on the GSC East First Team and were also named Player and Pitcher of Decade respectively. Dahlberg, who was selected at third base, was four-time All-GSC selection, including three seasons on the First Team along with Freshman and Player of the Year laurels. Dill garnered GSC First Team honors in 2008 while also logging South Central Region Pitcher of the Year accolades. Joining Dahlberg and Dill on the First Team was Walt Simmons. Simmons was a three-time, All-GSC First Team selection. The trio combined holds 10 of UWA’s school records.

The Tigers added two more to the All-Decade Team as catcher Jake DeRoy and pitcher Mike Schmitt were selected to the Second Team. Schmitt and DeRoy were both two-time, All-GSC First Team honorees in their time in Livingston.

Third basemen Shannon Goggins and outfielder Heather Shugart represented the Tiger softball team on the East Division First Team. Goggins was a three-time All-GSC East Division performer while Shugart was an All-GSC East selection in 2007. Goggins holds the school record for homeruns with 45 while Shugart clutches the single season record with 21, set in 2007. Shugart also holds the record for most consecutive hits in GSC history with 23.

Pitcher Zayne Smith rounded out the UWA representatives as she grabbed Second Team accolades. Smith was a two-time All-GSC East honoree. Smith holds the school record for hits (403), batting average (.403) and strikeouts (642).

Student-athletes could only be nominated for the All-Decade Team if they competed in at least two seasons during the decade and were also named to the All-GSC First Team at least once. Each squad was broken up into First and Second Teams and Players and Coaches of the Decade were selected. Honorable Mentions were also recognized in special circumstances.

West Alabama placed a total of 13 former student-athletes on the six team lists that the conference office unveiled this summer.