BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Gulf South Conference East Division Champion University of West Alabama baseball team placed eight players on the 2009 All-Gulf South Conference Teams headlined by four-time All-GSC selection Rob Dahlberg. Dahlberg is one of five First Team selections with the Tigers placing three on the Second Team.

A Gilbertown, Ala.-native, Dahlberg becomes the second UWA player to become a three-time, all-conference first teamer. Joining the senior first baseman is second baseman, Jeremy Finney (Memphis, Tenn.); third baseman, Nick Wheeler (Hokes Bluff, Ala.); pitcher, Mike Schmitt (Cheyenne, Wyo.) and pitcher, Matt Hill (D’Iberville, Miss.). The senior quintet returns as all-conference performers from 2008. Two-time Second Team selection Brian Burgess (Huntsville, Ala.) is joined by first time honorees Brian Simone (Amherstburg, Ontario) and Kevin Deese (Fosters, Ala.).

UWA had the second most selections behind Southern Arkansas’ 10 overall selections. Valdosta State, Delta State and Henderson State each added seven all-conference performers. The Blazers Matt Costello was tagged as the GSC East Player of the Year with Duston Daughtry being named the division’s Freshman of the Year.

West Alabama opens the 2009 GSC Baseball Tournament on Saturday, May 2, as the East top seed faces Ouachita Baptist, the West No. 4-seed. First pitch is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. The game will be broadcasted on WZNJ 106.5-FM and at athletics.uwa.edu.