Seven Spartans Collect Post Season Honors While Head Coach Chris Hawkins is Named the Big South Coach of the Year for the Second Time in Three Seasons

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - With the Big South Softball Tournament just days away, USC Upstate softball collected several post-season honors as the Big South announced its All-Conference award winners on Wednesday afternoon.

Denver Lauer and Celeste Delorenzo claimed First Team All-Conference honors while Sierra Maness and Alanna Deal were named to the Big South All-Conference Second Team. In addition to her second team honors, Maness was named to the Big South All-Freshman Team as was second baseman Abby Polk. Transfer catcher Abigial Pippen earned an honorable mention from the conference for her efforts on the field this season. Senior Cassie Norris was recognized for her work both as the Spartans' first baseman as well as for her work in the classroom this semester. Head coach Chris Hawkins earned the highest of post-season honors as he was named the Big South Coach of the Year.

Denver Lauer led the Spartans' offense through the 2024 season with her .329 batting average, 36 runs, 49 hits, seven doubles, 28 RBI, 68 total bases, and astounding 40 stolen bases. Lauer was a one-time Player of the Week back in February after she had six runs, six hits, eight RBI, three homeruns, and three stolen bases. The junior was ranked nationally throughout the season and goes into the tournament leading the nation in total stolen bases and ranked second in stolen bases per game.

Celeste Delorenzo played her second season as Upstate's third baseman and was a key piece to the Spartans' defense. She had one run against ranked Kentucky while scoring multiple runs in single game contests against Big South opponents Radford, Winthrop, Longwood. Delorenzo finished the season with 21 runs, 31 hits, three doubles, four homeruns, 27 RBI, 46 total bases, and three stolen bases. She had homeruns in back-to-back games in the Longwood series to help the Spartans sweep the Lancers to remain undefeated through April.

Alanna Deal played her first season as Upstate's shortstop and filled that role beautifully as she had a hand in 10 double plays this season. She finished the season with 34 runs, 33 hits, six doubles, one homerun, 22 RBI, 42 total bases, and 15 stolen bases.

Sierra Maness led the Spartans' pitching staff throughout the season with a 2.38 ERA, 147.0 innings pitched, 13 wins, and 119 strikeouts. The freshman took on several ranked opponents including Kentucky, Auburn, and Georgia. She was a three-time Pitcher of the Week and a one-time Freshman of the Week and went 6-0 in conference through four conference series. Maness helped the Spartans lead the Big South in pitching both overall (2.88 ERA) and in conference matches (2.10 ERA).

Abby Polk came in as a freshman and successfully filled the second base position. She finished the Year with 28 runs, 31 hits, four doubles, one triple, 20 RBI, 37 total bases, and an impressive 26 stolen bases (out of 27). Polk sat with Lauer in national rankings for stolen bases per game (23rd) and total stolen bases (23rd). She was a one-time Freshman of the Week honoree back in February after recording six runs, five hits, five pick offs, four stolen bases, and two RBI.

After transferring to USC Upstate for her sophomore season, Abigail Pippen started 45 of 46 games played for Upstate. She was able to shift between Maness, Drerup and Kelly in the pitching circle without missing a beat. Pippen finished the season with 16 runs, 32 hits, seven doubles, one homerun, 20 RBI, 42 total bases, and two stolen bases. She had a season-high three runs scored against Presbyterian.

Cassie Norris earns her spot on the All-Academic Team after being a consistent piece of Upstate's infield throughout the regular season while maintaining a stellar GPA. Norris 11 runs, 21 hits, seven doubles, two homeruns, 18 RBI, 34 total bases, and two stolen bases. Norris was a one-time Big South Player of the Week after recording four runs, seven hits, six RBI, and three doubles during the series against Presbyterian. She earns the academic honor after holding a 3.888 GPA while pursuing her Bachelor's of Science in exercise science.

Head coach Chris Hawkins was named the Big South Coach of the Year following the Spartans solid 2024 regular season performance that saw Upstate claim five out of six Big South series, including sweeping two Big South opponents. Coach Hawkins led against ranked opponents such as Kentucky, Georgia, and South Carolina while still being one of the most dominant teams in the Big South conference. The 2024 season has brought coach Hawkins up to 1,094 wins after reaching 1,000 wins just back in the 2022 season. Under Hawkins' leadership Upstate collected four Pitcher of the Week, three Player of the Week, and three Freshman of the Week honors. This is the second time coach Hawkins has earned the honor of Big South Coach of the Year since Upstate joined the Big South in 2018. Prior to moving to the Big South, coach Hawkins was a three-time ASUN Coach of the Year (2014, 2015, 2017).

2024 Big South Conference Softball Award Winners

First-Team All-Conference

OF Lexie Roberts, Soph., Radford

OF Denver Lauer, Jr., USC Upstate

OF Lauren Fox, Sr., Longwood

1B Sophia Knock, Soph., Longwood

2B KaDedra Temple, Gr., Winthrop

SS Lauren Taylor, Gr., Longwood

3B Celeste Delorenzo, Sr., USC Upstate

C Gracie Prince, Jr., Charleston Southern

P Nealy Lamb, Fr., Charleston Southern

P Reese Basinger, Jr., Winthrop

DP Andrea Lyon, Gr., Gardner-Webb

UTL Megan Powell, Jr., Winthrop

Second-Team All-Conference

OF Emily Vinson, Jr., Longwood

OF Kayley DeVivi, Sr., Longwood

OF Adrienne Visintine, Gr., Gardner-Webb

1B Kari Shedrick, Jr., Radford

2B Maddy Lee, Soph., Charleston Southern

SS Alanna Deal, Jr., USC Upstate

3B Korynna Anderson, Gr., Longwood

C Abby Wilson, Gr., Radford

P Sierra Maness, Fr., USC Upstate

P Maggie Chapin, Soph., Longwood

DP Carsten Sandvig, Fr., Charleston Southern

UTL Kasey Wolfe, Fr., Presbyterian

Honorable Mention All-Conference

BriAnna Brooks, OF, R-Soph., Charleston Southern

Rachel Smith, SS, Jr., Radford

Peyton Rivas, OF, R-Sr., Winthrop

Annicka McLaughlin, 2B, Soph., Gardner-Webb

Abigail Pippen, C, Soph., USC Upstate

All-Freshman Team

Nealy Lamb, P, Charleston Southern

Sierra Maness, P, USC Upstate

Abby Polk, 2B, USC Upstate

Kasey Wolfe, UTL, Presbyterian

Carsten Sandvig, DP, Charleston Southern

Maggie Hiatt, C, Longwood

Cierra Gawryluk, P, Longwood

All-Academic Team

Annah Junge, P, Gr., Charleston Southern

Andrea Lyon, P/OF, Gr., Gardner-Webb

Koryanna Anderson, 3B, Gr., Longwood

Kaitlyn Tucker, 2B, Sr., Presbyterian College

Lexie Roberts, OF, Soph., Radford

Cassie Norris, 1B, Sr., USC Upstate

Reese Basinger, P, Jr., Winthrop

Player of the Year

Lexie Roberts, OF, Soph., Radford

Pitcher of the Year

Nealy Lamb, Fr., Charleston Southern

Newcomer of the Year

Megan Powell, UTL, Jr., Winthrop

Freshman of the Year

Nealy Lamb, Fr., Charleston Southern

Coach of the Year

Chris Hawkins, USC Upstate

Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Annah Junge, P, Gr., Charleston Southern

Up Next for the Spartans

Upstate will begin the Big South Softball Tournament on Thursday afternoon in Rock Hill. S.C. The winner of game one between No. 1 seed USC Upstate and No. 4 seed Charleston Southern will play the winner between No. 2 seed Longwood and No. 3 seed Winthrop on May 10 at 2:00 p.m. For more information about the tournament and full tournament schedule, click here.

Tickets on Sale for Sparty's Ball – Saturday, May 18
Support USC Upstate Athletics at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraiser of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund. The UAF impacts current and future generations of Spartans, developing champions on the field, building scholars in the classroom, and preparing leaders for life. Presented by the Sports Medicine Institute, a division of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Sparty's Ball features live and silent auction items, delicious food from Cribbs Catering, beverages, and live entertainment from Under the Sun, and held at a new location, Indigo Hall in downtown Spartanburg. Come dressed in your Spartan best—cocktail attire is required. For details and tickets, log onto www.upstatespartans.com/spartysball.

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Players Mentioned

Alanna Deal

Celeste Delorenzo

Denver Lauer

Sierra Maness

Cassie Norris

Abigail Pippen

Abby Polk

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