Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan Softball and Head Coach Clay Ardeeser are excited to welcome the initial signees in the 2024 signing class. The Warriors will welcome nine ladies from the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Southern Wesleyan looks to bring Maddie Crouch, Megan Ware, Reagan Fulcher, Ayden Leaphart, Bailey Throckmorton, Tori Cannady, Liv Hall, Sarah Woody and Josie Shoemaker to campus in the fall of 2024.
The Warriors first signee from North Carolina is Maddie Crouch. Crouch hails from Morganton, NC where she attends Draughn High School. Primarily a shortstop, she was named the 2022 Western Highlands Player of the Year in 2022. She has also been named All-State, All-Conference and All-District over the last three years. In her previous season, she boasted an over .500 batting average during the season.
"Maddie is someone that we targeted very early in the 2024 process," commented Coach Ardeeser. "Extremely hardworking player that wants to be the best on the field no matter who she is playing. High level defender that moves her feet well. Gap to gap hitter that can hit anywhere in the lineup. All state player that has garnered tons of accolades during her time in high school. We look for Maddie to come in and compete right away."
Crouch will be joined by another North Carolina native in Megan Ware. Ware will come to Central, SC from Fuquay-Varina, NC. While attending Fuquay-Varina High School, she served as a utility player, including three of the infield positions. Throughout her career she has received All-Conference honors and is a three time Academic All-Conference winner. She has posted a .340 batting average and a .979 fielding percentage.
"Megan is a great talent but even better person," said Head Coach Ardeeser. "Great drive to be the best that she can be. Fits the mold of a player that we like to go out and get. Athletic defensively and can play all three infield positions to a high level. Good arm strength and is athletic enough to go out to the outfield if needed. At the plate she is an extremely tough out. Sprays the whole field and has some juice to drive balls out on occasion. She should come in and press for playing time right away."
Hailing from Comer, GA the next signee is Reagan Fulcher. Fulcher attended Madison County High School where she was a third baseman. Last season she was named 2nd Team All-Region and received the Red Raider Award. In her sophomore season, she received Offensive Player of the Year and All-Region 1st Team honors. Over her career, she posted a .428 batting average and has recorded 61 RBIs.
"Reagan is another player that really fits our mold. Really athletic and does the little things right," mentioned Coach Ardeeser. "She is really polished with the bat and has the ability to hit at a high level here. Good arm strength and is not afraid to lay her body out at her position. I think she can be a middle of the order hitter by the end of her time here and push for early playing time."
She will be joined by another Georgia native in Bailey Throckmorton. Throckmorton will join the team from Colbert, GA where she attended Prince Avenue High School. She is a right-handed pitcher who was named the Region Pitcher of the Year after both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Her team went on to be named State Champions in 2023. She has posted a 27-1 record while pitching 152.2 innings and a 2.1 ERA. During the 2023 season alone, she recorded 139 strikeouts.
"A player that has gotten wrongfully overlooked," commented Ardeeser, "she is coming off of a state championship where she had to throw five complete games in two days coming out of the losers bracket. Really good location and spin that will be a good mix for the arms we have coming back. She always wants the ball and is an ultimate team player. We think she could be a starter or change of pace in the bullpen for us."
Sarah Woody will come to South Carolina from Dacula, GA. She attended Mill Creek High School where she served as an outfielder on the team. She was named to the All County Academic Team and a Scholar Athlete in 2022. Her team advanced to the Elite Eight in 2023.
"Sarah is as good a person as it gets," mentioned Head Coach Ardeeser. "Ultimate team player, that has a high motor. Sarah can really go get it in the outfield and fits us as a defensive minded team first and foremost. Sarah has good speed, and is a high level base runner. Sarah is another slapper that gives our offense more dimension and depth to it. Her high school team is coming off of a state championship run and was one of the best teams in the state. Sarah will come in and compete right away."
The final signee from the state of Georgia is Josie Shoemaker. Shoemaker will come to Southern Wesleyan via Watkinsville, GA where she attended Oconee County High School. In high school she has served as both a middle infielder and an outfielder.
"Josie is someone that has bloomed late and had a really good high school season this fall," commented Ardeeser. "Since switching to a slapper she has gotten better and better. I think she is a really good defender that has the ability to play multiple positions. The ceiling is extremely high for her as her slapping continues to come along. She has an outstanding outgoing personality that lights up the room and will be a great addition to our team. Josie is a really good base runner that loves the game of softball."
The Warriors first signee from the state of South Carolina is Ayden Leaphart. Leaphart comes from Gilbert, SC where she attended Gilbert High School. During her high school career, she played both third and first base. She picked up All-Region honors in 2021 and 2023, and was named All-State in 2023. Throughout her career, she has posted a .481 batting average, a .632 on-base percentage and a 1.260 OPS.
"Ayden is someone that has gotten better and better every time we have seen her," said Ardeeser. "Someone that we identified early in the recruiting process and is coming off a great high school season. Ayden is another strong athletic player. I think she has a very high ceiling at the plate and hasn't even reached what she can accomplish there. Defensively she is hard nosed and can play either corner position as well as middle infield if needed. Very high IQ softball player that works hard."
Tori Cannady will join the Warriors and her sister, Talissa Cannady, from Abbeville, SC. She attended Abbeville High School where she served as an utility player.
"Tori can play multiple positions and has a really good bat," commented Ardeeser. "She has some added strength that she will gain at the college level. Tori is a great person and we know she will be a fantastic teammate to bring in as well. She is working back from an injury right now and should hopefully be ready for school ball when it starts up in the spring."
The next lady to join the Warriors is Liv Hall. Hall comes to Central, SC via Craytonville, SC where she attended Belton-Honea Path High School. She is a right-handed pitcher and utility player who was named to the All-Region team in 2022. Not only a softball player, she placed third in a SCHSCA Weightlifting Meet. She has been named an Athlete of the Month and is a member of the Beta Club.
"Liv is another player from the BHP connection through the last two years here," mentioned Head Coach Ardeeser. "Liv is someone as a pitcher that just really commands the game. Locates really well and produces a lot of weak contact. Her team at BHP should make a deep run in the postseason this year. As a hitter Liv is very consistent, she uses the whole field and has some pop as well. We look for Liv to be a really good two-way player for us right away."
