VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers will hit the road this week, as they travel to Americus, Ga. to take on Georgia Southwestern on Tuesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. before heading up to Tennessee to play Christiam Brothers in a three game series this weekend.
 
After dropping game one to Lee on Friday night, Valdosta State stormed back with two wins on Saturday that was capped off by a walk off win in game three on an errant throw by the Lee third baseman that has Jovanni Canegitta hustling around the bases to steal the series. VSU sits at 24-17 overall and 18-8 in GSC play. The Blazers are currently in second place in the Gulf South Conference standings, as they are 2.5 games back from Delta State for first and are half a game up on West Florida for second.
 
There are two weeks left in the regular season, as the Blazers have four road games and four home games before they head to Choccolocoo Park in Oxford, Ala. to compete in the GSC Championship that starts on Friday, May 2. The Blazers haven't won the GSC Championship since 2013 and haven't been regular season champions since 2008 when they won the East Division as the conference was separated into divisions until 2012.
 
In his year as head coach, Jan Weisberg has already elevated the Blazers' play, as they are batting .299 as a team and hold an ERA of 5.19 while fielding at a .963 clip. After starting the season 0-4 at Billy Grant Field, VSU has rebounded in a big way by going 15-4 since then to sit at 15-8 at home in 2025. On the mound, Hunter Booth had his best start all season, as the righty went 7.0 innings and allowed three hits for one run while fanning a career high 13 batters, which is the most by a Blazer since 2021. Booth picked up his sixth win of the year as he is 6-4 on the year with an ERA of 3.41 while punching out 63 batters, good for fourth in the GSC. In the bullpen, Ryan Brown was lights out on Saturday, as he played in both games, logging a total of 3.1 innings pitched and picked up a save in the first game and a win in the second game. The southpaw has been Weisberg's go-to arm out of the pen, as Brown is 3-1 on the year with four saves while carrying an ERA of 1.57 in 15 appearances. Brown has logged 23.0 innings of work and has a WHIP of 1.17 while allowing a total of three extra base hits from opponents. Jovanni Canegitta made a pair of starts on Saturday and scored three runs in each game as he was making his first start since Mar. 4 versus Nova Southeastern. DJ Banks continued to do what he does best, as he extended his on base streak to 41 straight games to go along with a three hit game on Friday night. Banks leads the Blazers in average as the second baseman is hitting .350 on the year with 57 hits while driving in 36 which is second on the team. In 41 starts, Banks has a total of 16 extra base hits and has scored 29 runs while fielding at a .971 clip at second base. Orlando Pena was a triple away from the cycle in the rubber match on Saturday, as he went 3-4 with his league leading 16^th home run while driving in three. The third baseman is well on his way to some impressive accolades this year, as he is leading the whole south region in home runs and in RBI so far.
 
Valdosta State and Georgia Southwestern squared off in Valdosta earlier this year, as GSW came out with a 17-14 victory back on Feb. 11. A total of six home runs were hit, as neither pitching staff could settle in as the score looked like a football game was played at Billy Grant Field. The Canes are 26-17 on the year and are 13-8 in the Peach Belt Conference while holding a 18-7 record at home this season. GSW is led by head coach Josh McDonald, who is 172-144 in seven seasons and has surpassed 30 wins in each of the last two seasons. McDonald's pitching staff holds an ERA of 4.72, which is second in the PBC as opponents are hitting .263 against them. At the plate, the Canes are hitting .297 and get on base at a .404 clip. Individually, Paul Hegeman is the top bat, as the first baseman leads the team in home runs with seven and RBI with 50. Utility man Corey Lee leads the bunch in hits as he has tallied 61 on the year while batting .349 and has driven. In 36 on 11 doubles and two home runs. Sophomore Matthew Manuel was the Blazer killer back in Feb., as the outfielder went 3-6 with three runs scored and a home run. On the season, Manuel is batting .295 with six home runs in 146 at bats while 24 RBI.
 
On Friday, the Blazers will take on Christian Brothers in a three game set in Memphis, Tenn. The Buccaneers have struggled this season, as they are 15-25 overall and 5-22 in the GSC as they sit in last place. CBU is batting .267 as a team with Jackson Licata leading the charge as he is hitting .358 with 49 hits. Jalen Smith is the power bat for the squad, as the infielder has mashed eight home runs and 40 RBI while slugging at a .569 clip. On the mound, AJ Gamboa leads the starter in ERA as he holds a 5.52 as he most recently allowed two earned runs in seven innings versus Montevallo over the weekend. Charlie Faoro leads the team in innings pitched as he has logged 48.2 IP while he is just 1-6 overall with an ERA of 8.69 with the opposition batting .351 against him.
 
Following the road games this week, the Blazers will come back home to host Saint Leo on Tuesday, Apr. 22 before welcoming the West Florida Argonauts on Friday, Apr. 25 and Saturday, Apr. 26 for a colossal three game set to wrap up the regular season