By Lacey Bearden
lbearden@valdosta.edu

Alex Acosta brings new heat to the Blazer softball team. Acosta, or better known by her teammates as, “A-Rod” is from Miami. She has been playing softball since she was 7. She played at Pace High School and Lynn University, where she brought home a national championship. Acosta came to VSU after Coach Thomas Macera, her coach at Lynn University, was offered the coaching position here. She feels that Macera has made her a better player.

“I figured the best chance to win another national championship was to continue to play for him,” Acosta said.

Acosta has received numerous awards throughout the years, including Division II Third Team All-American, Gulf South Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-GSC All-Academic.

“The most important award to me was VSU softball MVP for 2007 because my teammates were the ones that voted,” Acosta said.

Acosta looks to Alex Rodriguez, third baseman for the New York Yankees, as her athletic hero. Off the field she owes a lot to her mother.

“She pushes me to be the best I can be and if my best wasn’t good enough she pushes me to be better,” Acosta said.

Acosta also has a lot of respect for her teammates. She is a team player and gets along with all her teammates. She sees her softball team as one big family.

“I want to do my best for them [her teammates],” Acosta said.

When Acosta is not scooping up the ground balls at shortstop, she can be found hanging out with her friends or on the lake, wakeboarding.

To see Acosta in action come out to the next home game this tomorrow, Feb. 8th against Thomas University.