North Carolina slugger Autumn Owen and Mercer’s Tori Hedgecock were among the players that earned league awards from the Florida Gulf Coast League this week.
The FGCL, which began its fourth summer season in June, handed out end-of-season awards ahead of the league playoffs, which also began this week.
Owen was named the league’s Most Valuable Player, while Hedgecock earned Offensive Player of the Year honors. Owen spent her summer playing for the Impact, buoying that squad to the top seed in the FGCL playoffs; Hedgecock played for the Skeeters during this summer season.
Villanova’s Kat Gallant was named the league’s Pitcher of the Year, representing the River Mocs in the league. Gabby Higbee, of Nicholls State during the collegiate season and the Slice in the FGCL, was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Ansley Gilstrap, who ended her own collegiate playing career at Clemson and most recently coached at Winthrop, was named Coach of the Year. Gilstrap has led that same top-seeded Impact squad this summer.
Hailey Deter was named the FGCL’s Breakthrough Player of the Year. Of Liberty and the Manatee Squeeze, Deter led the league in hits and doubles during the regular season, notching eleven 2-baggers, and finished second in the league in runs scored.
Arizona State’s Shannon Cunningham was crowned the league’s Home Run Champion after clubbing eight longballs during the FGCL season.
