Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan Head Coach Clay Ardeeser and the Warrior Softball program are excited to welcome the 2023 signing class.  The Warriors will bring in 10 athletes in the 2023 signing class including eight from the state of South Carolina.  Southern Wesleyan will welcome Rileigh Farr, Amberly Way, Riley Brown, Mackinzie Jefferson, Ashlyn Elmore, Logan Harris, Chalee Roper, Taylor Palfrey, Ava Crawford and Riley Wilson to Central, South Carolina in the Fall of the 2023
 
The Warriors first signee of the year is Rileigh Farr.  A local product out of Anderson, South Carolina, Farr attended Pendleton High School.  While there she served as both a right-handed pitcher and utility player for the Bulldogs.  She started competing on the varsity program as a seventh grader.  While at Pendleton High School, she has been named to the National Honors Society and is a member of the Beta Club.  Farr was named a Heisnan Athlete at Pendleton High School
 
"Rileigh was the first commit in our class and was huge to get our recruiting going," commented Head Coach Clay Ardeeser.  "She has good movement on her pitches and can throw multiple pitches for strikes. She can play multiple positions defensively and can drive the gaps at the plate."
 
She will be joined by fellow Anderson, South Carolina native Mackinzie Jefferson.  Jefferson attended Westside High School where she also served as a utility player and right-handed pitcher.  She was named to the All-Region team in 2022.
 
"Mac is just a great person to be around," said Ardeeser.  "She has an infectious personality and is an awesome teammate. She hasn't even come close to the talent we think she can be for us here. Good strength right now at the plate and she will get the opportunity to pitch and play other positions for us as well."
 
Amberly Way is the third signee for the Southern Wesleyan Softball program.  Way hails from Summerton, South Carolina where she attended Wilson Hall High School.  While there, she served as a pitcher and an infielder, primarily at short stop and third base.  She was named the Female Athlete of the Year at Wilson Hall in 2022.  While on the softball team, Wilson Hall has become two-time state champions.
 
"When you see Bam Bam play you see the potential and the God-given talent," Head Coach Ardeeser said.  "Then you meet her as a person and see just how much of a joy she is to be around. Always laughing and having a good time and has an extremely high motor. Big time juice at the plate, good velo and movement on the mound, and can really pick it at short stop."
 
She will be joined by Wilson Hall High School teammate Ashlyn Elmore.  Elmore, a native of Sumter, South Carolina, also is an infielder for Wilson Hall.  She primarily plays second and third base.  While on the softball team, Wilson Hall has become two-time state champions.
 
"We really wanted to change the culture in our first recruiting class and get players in that just want to grind and work hard, Ashlyn fits that bill to a T," said Coach Ardeeser.  He continued, "Coach Mal said to me one time 'every time we watch her, she's always on base.' Ashlyn is one of the best defenders in our class and can really play every position on the infield well. She has really good bat control through the zone and is tough to strikeout."
 
A native of Pelzer, South Carolina, the next signee is Riley Brown.  Brown attended Palmetto High School where she served as an outfielder.  While playing for the Mustangs, she was named All-Region in both 2021 and 2022.  She was also named the Offensive MVP after the 2022 season.  She was a member of the Upper State Championship Team in 2019
 
"We saw Riley picking up with another team that we were watching players on," mentioned Ardeeser.  "People were telling us you got to look at this kid her recruitment is heating up. I saw her hit a routine ball to the pitcher and beat it out for a hit. Besides speed that you don't teach, she can absolutely go get it in the outfield and has gotten better and better since switching to a slapper a year or two ago."
 
Taylor Palfrey is the next signee and will join Southern Wesleyan from down the road in Chapin, South Carolina.  She attended Chapin High School where she served as one of the Eagles outfielders and short stops.  Palfrey was named 5AAAAA All-Region after the spring 2022 season.
 
"I saw Taylor at a tournament in Columbia, and just couldn't believe she wasn't committed yet," stated Ardeeser.  "A true outfielder that has played shortstop recently and really projects well there. Can hit from the right side but is a talented slapper that places the ball well. Another player in this class that has elite speed and can do a ton of damage on the bases. An awesome outgoing personality like all of our girls in this class."
 
The Warriors will bring in Chalee Roper from Honea Path, South Carolina.  A local product, Roper attended Belton-Honea Path High School where she served as a middle infielder.
 
"We wanted to hammer the local and in-state kids in this class because we think the state has a ton of talent this year," said Head Coach Clay Ardeeser. "Chalee plays for a good high school team and just does everything right. She works extremely hard and comes from an athletic family. Really good defensively, she has great speed and a high IQ on the bases. She barrels a lot of balls up at the plate and is a really tough out."
 
The Warriors final signee from South Carolina is Ava Crawford.  Crawford is a native of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina where she attended Wando High School.  An outfielder for the Wando Warrior, Crawford was named All-Region and Second Team All Low Country in 2022.  She also served as the softball team captain for the spring 2022 season.
 
"Ava is an awesome person that works hard," said Ardeeser. "I've seen her play a ton this year and every time we watch her, she gets better and better. Long lanky frame that has a ton of room to fill out and get stronger. She has some pop at the plate and plays a stellar center field defensively. She's made tons of diving plays in the outfield. Good speed on the base as well."
 
The Warriors will welcome two athletes from outside of the state of South Carolina in Logan Harris and Riley Wilson.
 
Logan Harris will join the Warriors via Rutherfordton, North Carolina.  She attended R-S Central High School where she served as both a right-handed pitcher and a first baseman.  Harris is a member of the Beta Club and is her high school's class president.  She was named 2A All-District and 2A All-Conference in 2022
 
"Logan is somebody that flew under the radar a little bit," said Head Coach Ardeeser. "she plays for a smaller school in a tiny town, but she has loads of potential. Does everything well from a pitching standpoint. Moves the ball, has velo, and can change speeds. As a hitter she has good pop and barrels a lot of balls up. Unshakable as a player, nothing seems to bother her which we love to have from our pitchers."
 
Southern Wesleyan will bring in Riley Wilson from Loganville, Georgia.  The peach state native played for George Walton Academy as both a short stop and third baseman.  While there she has been named to All-Region and All-State in both 2021 and 2022.  She was also named All-County after the 2021 season.  In 2021, her team became the State Runner-Up. 
 
"We have been on Riley for a while now," commented Ardeeser. "She's from a state where kids don't typically leave to go play elsewhere. Really polished as a hitter. Can hit for average and power along with running the base well. Solid defender that can play anywhere on the infield. An all state player who plays for a program that has been to the state finals a ton. She's a player that we think can be really good and has a very high ceiling."