Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan Softball and Head Coach Clay Ardeeser are excited to welcome 15 in the 2025 signing class. The class will include athletes from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Brandy Smith, Lily McFarland, Marissa Moreland, Carly Anderson, Abby Lawson, Haydin Williams, Alexis Grizzle, Harley Hoffman, Madison Gantt, Taylor Evans, Anicka McFarland, Madeleine Knop, Gabby Smith, Kassie Swink, and Gracie Scott will all look to join Southern Wesleyan this fall in preparation for the 2026 season.
The Warriors first signee of the year hails from down the road in Loris, SC. Brandy Smith, an outfielder, attended Conway High School. During her high school career, she was named to All-State and was the All-Region Player of the Year. She also finished second in the state in home runs.
"Brandy was our first commit of the 2025 class and we are excited to have her," commented Head Coach Clay Ardeeser. "Tons of pop in the bat and is a very athletic player, which we look for. Brandy has consistently been at the top of the state leaders in home runs every year. We are looking for her to come in and compete right away."
Local product Lily McFarland will also be joining the Warriors this season. Originally from Alabama, McFarland has spent the past few years in Central, SC where she attended Pendleton High School. While playing for the Bulldogs, she served as a catcher, third baseman and an outfielder.
"Lily has SWU ties and is a local player since moving from Alabama," mentioned Ardeeser. "She has grown tremendously in her softball talent and knowledge. She is an extremely hardworking player and excellent teammate. She is someone who can play multiple positions and also has growing power at the plate. We are very excited for Lily's future with us."
Southern Wesleyan's third signee from South Carolina is Carly Anderson. Anderson, a pitcher and third baseman, hails from Marietta, SC where she attended Travelers Rest High School. During her high school career, she earned All-Region honors after the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons. She was also named the Offensive MVP after both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
"Carly is someone that came to our camps and really wanted to be in our program. She has gotten better and better every single time we have seen her," Coach Ardeeser said. "I think Carly has the ability to come in and be really good for us. We are excited for her potential."
Joining the Warriors from Cassatt, SC is Haydin Williams. Williams attended Camden High School. While competing for the Panthers she played as an outfielder.
"Haydin is the type of slapper that we usually go after. She has power and can drive the gaps with the ability to swing away from the left side as well as work the small game. She has tons of speed and is a great defender," mentioned Coach Ardeeser. "She is somebody that should have a chance to compete right away and we are excited for her future."
Transferring into Southern Wesleyan after spending time at Furman University is Gracie Scott. Scott hails from Lexington, SC. She played first base for the Paladins during her freshman season. Prior to playing at Furman, she graduated from Lexington High School where she helped the Wildcats to an Upper State championship and state runner-up finish in 2024.
"Gracie is somebody I had the chance to work with in travel ball and thought she was a really good fit for what we look for in a player," Ardeeser said. "She is an athletic player that will play really solid defense over at 1B, while also having the ability to drive the gaps. She is coming in hungry to prove herself and will fit in nicely with our current roster."
The Warriors will welcome seven from Georgia in Marissa Moreland, Abby Lawson, Alexis Grizzle, Harley Hoffman, Madison Gantt, Taylor Evans, and Madeleine Knop.
Marissa Moreland will travel up to Central, SC from Rossville, GA. The outfielder and shortstop attended Ridgeland High School
"Marissa is an extremely athletic kid," commented Ardeeser. "She runs well and can play multiple positions defensively. I think she has the ability to drive gaps at our level with added strength. I think Marissa has a very high ceiling and can be very good for us."
Joining the Warriors from Marietta, GA is Abby Lawson. Lawson attended Pope High School where she served as both a third baseman and a catcher. Throughout her high school career, Lawson has received numerous honors including being named All-Region Catcher and All-State in both 2023 and 2024. She also was named the Team MVP after the 2024 season. In 2022, she received the Coaches Award.
"Abby is a leader and tough as nails on the field," mentioned Ardeeser. "She has the ability to really tap into her power and be an elite hitter here. She plays at a premier high school team in the state of Georgia and has been coached very well. She is a high softball IQ kid that can be extremely talented here."
Alexis Grizzle will travel up to Central, SC from Jasper, GA. Grizzle played as a pitcher and first baseman for Pickens High School. She was named First Team All-Region and All-State after the 2024 season. In 2023, she was named the Offensive Player of the Year along with being named to the First Team All-Region Team. Grizzle also set the school record for home runs in a season and home runs in a career. She went on to also break the record for RBIs in a career.
"Alexis is a player that we really wanted on both sides of the ball," said Ardeeser. "I think she has the ability to hit and pitch for us. She plays for one of the best high schools in the state and really knows the game. I think she has a good mix on the mound and locates well. She is a gap to gap hitter that can be a great power hitter here the stronger she gets."
Southern Wesleyan will welcome in another pitcher and first baseman in Harley Hoffman. Hoffman will join the Warriors from Appling, GA where she attended Harlem High School. She has received All-Region honors in the 2021 through the 2024 seasons. After the 2024 season, she also was named All-State and was able to compete in the Georgia Dugout Club All-Star Game. Hoffman won the Harlem Award all four years of her high school career.
"Harley is someone that Coach Pops saw really early in the process and when she came to camp she really impressed," Coach Ardeeser said. "She has a good mix on the mound and spins it really well. I think she can be a dynamic starter in our league and also has the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark on offense. I think she will grow into a fantastic player here for us."
Joining the Warriors from Woodstock, GA is Madison Gantt. Gantt played as a middle infielder for Sequoyah High School. After the 2022 through 2024 seasons, she was named to both the All-Region and the All-County teams.
"Madison is exactly what I look for in an infielder. She is an excellent defender that has really smooth movement patterns," mentioned Ardeeser. "I think she can play SS or 2B when she gets here. She is a really tough out that battles at the plate. I love her ability to use the whole field and drive the ball in the gaps. We are excited to have her join our program."
Southern Wesleyan will welcome in Taylor Evans from Adairsville, GA. Evans attended Adairsville High School. While there, she served as a catcher for the Tigers.
"Taylor is a fantastic defensive catcher that commands the game well. She is another tough out at the plate that drives the ball all over the field." Coach Ardeeser commented. "I think she has emerging power that will continue to come as she gets older. I am really excited to have her join our program."
Madeleine "Speedy" Knop will travel up to Central, SC from Sharpsburg, Georgia. Knop attended Denmark High School where she primarily served as an outfielder.
"Speedy was a player that we saw during high school ball and continued to track," mentioned Ardeeser. "She got better and better. She is a very polished player offensively and defensively. She is also somebody that will help us out on the bases as well."
Anicka McFarland and Kassie Swink with travel to Central, SC from North Carolina.
The Warriors will welcome Anicka McFarland from up in Hickory, NC where she attended Saint Stephen's High School. During her high school career, she served as both a pitcher and a utility player.
"Anicka is a pure athlete in every sense of the word," said Ardeeser. "I think she will help us out on the mound but is also a strong hitter as well. She can play outfield, infield, and catch. She is a strong kid that will only grow and get better here. I think she is going to be a talented player for us."
Joining McFarland from the state of North Carolina is Kassie Swink. A dual sport athlete, Swink joins the Warriors after starting her career at Cleveland Community College. A native of Albemarle, NC, she spent time as a middle infielder. Swink will also be playing for the Warriors' Volleyball program this fall.
"We saw Kassie years ago through travel ball after she was already committed," Ardeeser said. "She is coming off of a phenomenal sophomore campaign where she hit .443 with 19 doubles and 6 triples, while only striking out 4 times all year. She will add a veteran presence in the middle infield for us and is very athletic. She is a dual sport athlete that excels on the volleyball court as well. We expect her to come in and compete right away."
Southern Wesleyan's lone signee from Pennsylvania is Gabby Smith. A native of Lebanon, PA, Smith will join the Warriors after serving as a right-handed pitcher and utility player for Eastern Lebanon County High School. After the 2024 season, she was named 1st Team LL Section 3, 1st Team All County and 2nd Team All State. Smith finished her high school career as the all time strikeout leader at Eastern Lebanon County High School.
"Gabby is someone we have had on our radar for a long time," commented Head Coach Ardeeser. "She tested out well at a summer camp we had and is a player that really fits our mold. She broke the career strikeout records at her high school last year and will add on to that record this year. She plays multiple sports and is really athletic. She hits for power, can drive the gaps, and can run. She's another player that can play multiple positions defensively. I look for Gabby to push for immediate playing time."
