Lee's Walsh makes All-South Region first team and more regional sports news

Assorted Sports Equipment on Black
Assorted Sports Equipment on Black

Sophomore guard Erin Walsh has become the first Lee University women's basketball player to earn NCAA Division II all-region first-team status. Walsh made the 2015-16 All-South Region team after averaging almost 18 points a game and hitting 85 3-point shots for the Lady Flames, who finished 20-10 overall and 15-7 in the Gulf South Conference. "This is truly a great honor for Erin, and she is very deserving after the great season she had this year," coach Marty Rowe said in a Lee release. Two other GSC players made the five-woman D2CCA All-South first team: Delta State senior guard Chelsey Rhodes as region player of the year and Union University junior forward Tiara Caldwell.

Golf

* The Dalton State women's golfers, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA, finished second to No. 1 Keiser in the eight-team Keiser University tournament Sunday and Monday at the Fountains Golf Club's South course at Lake Wales, Fla. Keiser, the reigning NAIA champion, shot 928 for 54 holes with Dalton State at 949 - 41 shots ahead of third-place Thomas. DSC's Katie Dalton was second individually at 225 with Monday's best round of 1-over-par 73, and teammates Caroline Griffin and Julia McQuilken were fourth and sixth at 233 and 237, with Erika Wardzinski 18th at 257.

* The Dalton State men were fifth at 893, one stroke out of fourth and four out of third, in the Keiser Invitational on the par-71 Fountains North Course. No. 1-ranked Johnson & Wales won by 17 strokes with an 850 total. Chase Jones led DSC with a 220, tied for 13th individually, and Austin Hughes tied for 15th at 221 with a closing 69. Dalton Johnson tied for 25th at 226. The Roadrunners' Levi Nix had to withdraw from the second round but had a first-round 78 and a 72 Monday.

* Lee's Taylor Davis is tied for second place individually at 141 (70-71) after the first two days of the Southeastern Collegiate men's golf tournament at Kinderlou Forest in Valdosta, Ga., and the Flames are tied for ninth at 594 in the strong 18-team field. West Florida leads at 573. Lee's Peyton Sliger, Adam Wright, Corey Sheppard and Shea Sylvester are at 151, 152, 153 and 154 with 18 holes to go.

* The Lee women's golfers opened play Monday in the Dancing Rabbit Invitational in Philadelphia, Miss., with a second-place 600, 12 shots behind Montevallo. Lee's Bernadette Little is tied for second at 143, and Caroline Moore and Sam Burrus are at 152.

Volleyball

* Red Bank High School senior Janie Smith signed scholarship papers Monday to continue her volleyball career at Bryan College in Dayton. The 5-foot-10 Smith played outside hitter last fall but may play middle blocker for her new set of Lady Lions, and Red Bank coach Mandi Munn said she is quite capable of playing either spot. "She was a leader for us this year as a senior, and she is a very hard worker," Munn said. "Volleyball is her love, and that's the sport she has focused on - playing club ball and taking lessons and doing all the extra work. I'm thrilled to see it pay off for her, and I think Bryan will be a very good fit for her." Smith said she also talked to Cumberland, Talladega and Martin Methodist but liked Bryan's proximity and the fact that everything about the school and the volleyball program "seemed like a family. From when I walked in the front door of the admissions building, everyone was so welcoming." Said Bryan coach Jessica Day: "I couldn't be happier to have Janie in our volleyball family. She is a good athlete that brings experience with her."

Baseball

* Covenant College freshman left-hander Drew Bradley was the USA South baseball rookie pitcher of the week for games of March 7-13. He got no decision for it, but he pitched 5 1/3 innings with four hits, no walks and only one earned run allowed Friday against North Carolina Wesleyan.

Tennis

* Covenant sophomore Annie DeLuca is the USA South women's tennis player of the week after going 1-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles in two weekend team victories. She is 3-1 in singles against league opponents.

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