Caldwell, Gutierrez named to preseason All-PBC team; Bobcats picked to finish seventh in PBC

AUGUSTA, Ga. | The Georgia College & State University Softball Team has been selected seventh in the preseason Peach Belt Conference coaches poll.

Senior third baseman Kam Caldwell and sophomore catcher Karlie Gutierrez were named to the preseason all-conference team.

Caldwell, who is from Athens, Georgia, was named to the All-Peach Belt first team in 2024. She appeared in 49 games with 46 starts. Her .409 batting average was third in the league to go along with her two homer runs and 29 RBI. Caldwell was tied for the league lead with 25 stolen bases (26 attempts), fourth in doubles (15) and eighth in on-base percentage (.469).

Gutierrez, who is from Newnan, Georgia, is the reigning PBC Freshman of the Year award winner and was named to the All-PBC second team in 2024. She led the Peach Belt with a .410 batting average. The two-time PBC Freshman of the Week and two-time PBC Player of the Week was second in the league with 64 RBI and a .763 slugging percentage. She was fifth in the conference with 13 home runs.

Columbus State University was the top team in the coaches' poll with 60 total points. The Cougars finished second in the PBC regular-season standings last year and then captured the PBC Tournament title for the first time since 2013. The University of North Georgia was second with 55 total points, just ahead of Flagler College in third with 52 points.

Lander University was fourth with 47 points and was followed by the University of South Carolina-Aiken (32), Georgia Southwestern State University (27), GCSU (24), University of South Carolina-Beaufort (14) and Augusta University (13).

The Bobcats went 28-28 last season.

GCSU opens up the 2025 season Jan. 31 when they travel to Young Harris, Georgia, for a 3 p.m. contest against Young Harris College.