Hannah Campbell Earns Academic All-District Honors; Hallford on Olson Watch List; Golf Opens NCAA Play

MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama softball pitcher Hannah Campbell became the first player in program history to earn Capital One Academic All-District honors, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Tuesday.

The recognition headlined a busy week for South Alabama athletics, as baseball reliever Brandon Hallford was named to the Gregg Olson Award watch list and the men’s golf team prepared to open NCAA Regional play Thursday.

Campbell Makes Softball History

Campbell, a senior left-hander from Satsuma, Ala., was named to the first team in District 4, which covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. She carries a 3.47 grade-point average and recently completed her degree in exercise science.

As a first-team district selection, Campbell advances to the Capital One Academic All-America ballot. First-, second- and third-team All-America honorees are scheduled to be announced later this month.

On the field, Campbell ranks third in the nation in earned run average at 0.92 and third in walks allowed per seven innings at 0.76. She leads a South Alabama pitching staff that ranks first nationally with a 1.28 team ERA.

In March, Campbell was selected third overall in the 2014 National Pro Fastpitch Draft by the Akron Racers. She is scheduled to join the Racers in August, becoming the first South Alabama softball player to move on to the professional level. She is also the first female student-athlete in school history to be drafted by a professional league.

Hallford Named to Gregg Olson Award Watch List

South Alabama pitcher Brandon Hallford was one of 80 players named Tuesday to the initial watch list for the 2014 Gregg Olson Award, presented by Toolshed Sports to college baseball’s top breakout player.

The award is named for former Auburn right-hander Gregg Olson, who became a two-time All-American after a mixed first season, then went on to be a first-round draft pick, American League Rookie of the Year and a Major League Baseball All-Star.

The watch list will be trimmed to semifinalists on May 30, and the winner will be announced in Omaha, Neb., during the College World Series, scheduled for June 15-26.

In 16 appearances this season, Hallford is 3-2 with seven saves. He has struck out 27 and walked 15 in 36 innings. He is tied for third in the Sun Belt Conference in saves as the Jaguars head into their final regular-season series.

Men’s Golf Begins NCAA East Regional

The South Alabama men’s golf team begins play in the NCAA East Regional on Thursday, marking the program’s second straight NCAA postseason appearance.

At last year’s NCAA Southeast Regional in Baton Rouge, La., Tyler Klava tied for sixth individually and won a first-hole playoff to advance to the NCAA Championship, where he finished in the top half of the field.

Lane Hulse and Blake Kelley each tied for 17th at that regional with three-round totals of 224, and Michael Garretson shot 230. The Jaguars placed sixth in the team standings, two strokes away from a playoff for the final team spot in the national championship.