NC State Softball Announces Nation’s 19th-Ranked Recruiting Class

RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State softball head coach Shawn Rychcik and his staff are excited to announce the 2017 recruiting class, which is one of the best in program history, ranking 19^th among the nation's top classes by FloSoftball.

"We're really excited about this class," said Rychcik. "Most of these kids have been waiting four years to get to their signing day and we still have another year until they get on campus, but we're really happy to get to this point with them.

"We thought we identified some really good talent and we've watched them grow and mature the past few years and we're excited about where they're at and the impact they'll have on our program."

Five players have signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to compete for the Wolfpack, headlined by four athletes listed among the top 112 recruits in the FloSoftball rankings.

NC State's class is the best in the state of North Carolina and on par with some of the nation's elite programs and third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), behind well-known programs Florida State and Notre Dame.

"It's really exciting to have a class like this where all of them will have an impact. There's a point where the top 100 runs out and there are kids that should be in it, but I think all five players will be very impactful.

"We've had some good recruiting battles to get them and we're happy that we were able to win out, but I think it shows the faith that these kids have in our program and where we're going. We fully recruited this class and we're excited to get them on campus."

The Wolfpack has addressed a variety of needs with this class, including infielders Chandley Garner and Timberlyn Shurbutt, outfielder Sam Russ, catcher Lily Bishop and pitcher Kama Woodall.

Lily Bishop
C | Riverside, Calif. (Grand Terrace HS)
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
California Cruisers

- Ranked No. 112 by FloSoftball among 2017 recruits
- Three-year starter at Grand Terrace High School
- Voted the conference's most valuable player (MVP) in her freshman season with the program and earned the award again as a sophomore
- Collected all-league honors in each of her three seasons
- Helped lead her high school team to the CIF Division Three Championship as a junior earlier this year
- Garnered scholar-athlete accolades following the 2016 season
- In travel ball, she led the California Cruisers to a seventh-place finish at PGF Nationals this year

Why she chose NC State – "I chose NC State because it felt like home when I stepped on to the field. I knew that I would and could accomplish great things here."

Rychcik on Bishop – "Lily's a power-hitting catcher/first baseman that will likely bat in the middle of our order. She swings a very heavy bat and we expect her to hit and hit well when she gets here. She'll probably have opportunities as a freshman and we're counting on her. She was highly recruited and played some great travel ball. We think she's going to be a home run, middle of the order type kid."

Chandley Garner
SS | Lawsonville, N.C. (North Stokes HS)
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Lady Lightning Gold Demarini

- Ranked No. 50 by FloSoftball among 2017 recruits and the second-best player recruit from the state of North Carolina
- Three-year varsity starter at North Stokes High School
- Named the Northwest Player of the Year in 2016, after batting .538 with an on-base percentage of .600 with 11 home runs
- Secured all-conference and all-tournament honors in each of her three seasons
- Led her high school team to the state championship as a freshman in 2014
- Also a standout volleyball player named to the Under Armour All-America Watch List in addition to starting all four years and receiving all-conference each season
- Excellent student that has been in Beta Club all three years of high school and serves as the treasurer
- Named to the honor roll in each year, as well as being tabbed an NC Scholar
- On the 2016 North Stokes Homecoming Court
- Member of Lady Lightning Gold Demarini travel ball team

Why she chose NC State – "I chose NC State because it felt like home the very first time I visited. I have always been a Wolfpack fan and to become part of the Pack is a dream come true."

Rychcik on Garner – "Chandley brings a lot of versatility, she can play all of the infield positions and she's a hard-working, hard-nosed kid with a lot of pop in her bat. We feel like we've got one of the best recruits in the state and that was one of our goals when we came here, to get the top kids in the North Carolina. We're excited about what she's done in her career and how she's progressed in her development."

FloSoftball on Garner – "Chandley brings fire and passion to the field every game and has a strong softball skill set that includes the ability to hit for average and power. She batted .538 this high school season with an on-base percentage of .600 and 11 home runs, that puts her in line to break the North Carolina all-time career home record. Chandley is also a smooth and efficient infielder who was flawless this year in prep ball, not making an error in 61 total chances. She's been a force since she exploded onto the prep scene as a freshman when she led her high school team to a 1A state championship hitting .521 that year with 11 homers and 46 RBI. The senior is the focal point in the Lady Lightning lineup too and adds punch on offense and leadership in the field. She committed to NC State in December of 2014."

Sam Russ
OF | Charlotte, N.C. (Providence Day School)
Throws: Right | Bats: Left
Gold Coast Hurricanes 18U Gold

- Three-year starter on the varsity softball team at Providence Day School in centerfield
- Named to the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) All-State team as a junior and sophomore
- Led her team to the NCISAA 3A state runner-up in 2016
- Garnered 2016 CISAA Conference Player of the Year following her junior season in which she batted .694 with 50 stolen bases
- Tabbed an All-Charlotte Observer First Team selection in 2016
- Collected CISAA all-conference in each of her three seasons at Providence Day
- Owns 114 career stolen bases
- Member of the 2016 Junior Olympic Cup Runner-Up Team with the Gold Coast Hurricanes 18U Gold travel ball squad along with fellow Wolfpack signee Kama Woodall

Why she chose NC State – "I instantly fell in love with all aspects of the campus and I knew it was the place for me. The accomplished coaching staff knows what it takes to win and will help me reach my full potential as a player. I can't wait to be apart of this program!"

Rychcik on Russ – "Sam is a speedy outfielder that will add another element of speed in the outfield and on the bases. She's going to put pressure on defenses and score a lot of runs for us and we're excited about the pressure that she's going to bring to opponents offensively to our lineup and defensively."

Timberlyn Shurbutt
INF | Alexandria, Ala. (Alexandria HS)
Throws: Right | Bats: Right
Birmingham Thunderbolts

- Ranked No. 109 by FloSoftball among 2017 recruits and the seventh-best recruit from the state of Alabama
- Four-year member of the varsity softball team at Alexandria High School, as she started playing varsity as an eighth grade student
- Garnered all-county and all-area honors in each of her four seasons with the program
- Additionally, she has been named an all-conference selection every year she has been with the varsity team
- Selected to participate in the state of Alabama North/South All-Star Game last summer, playing for the North team
- Led her high school team to the 4A State Championship as a freshman in 2014
- Plays third base for the Birmingham Thunderbolts 18 Premier Team in club ball
- She helped the squad finish third at PGF Nationals in 2016 and 2015, in addition to a seventh place finish in 2014 and 2012
- A strong student, collecting National Honor Roll accolades in each year of high school

Why she chose NC State – "I chose NC State because of the level of education and opportunity that NC State can provide and also to play for the amazing coaches. Coach Rychcik and his staff have so much to offer and I'm very excited to be part of it."

Rychcik on Shurbutt – "Timberlyn's another versatile athlete. She plays third base primarily, but she has the ability to play other infield positions, as well as outfield and catching, so she has a lot of versatility in her game. She suffered an injury last year and has torn it up since coming back this past summer. She was one of the top hitters at PGF Nationals and she's a really solid hitter in her class. She's a huge steal for us in the Birmingham Thunderbolts organization, so we're really excited about her."

Kama Woodall
P | Spring Hill, Fla. (F.W. Springstead HS)
Throws: Right | Bats: Right
Gold Coast Hurricanes 18U Gold

- Ranked No. 93 by FloSoftball among 2017 recruits and the eighth-best recruit from the state of Florida
- Three-year varsity starter, spending her first two years at Canterbury High School before transferring to F.W. Springstead for her final two seasons
- Lead her teams to two state championships, three semifinals appearances and four regional championships
- Three-time all-state selection
- Garnered Pinellas County Pitcher of the Year honors in 2015 and 2014
- Tabbed 6A Pitcher of the Year in 2016, as well as Hernando County Pitcher of the Year
- Earned 2A Defensive Player of the Year accolades as a sophomore
- Member of the 2016 Junior Olympic Cup Runner-Up Team with the Gold Coast Hurricanes 18U Gold travel ball squad along with fellow Wolfpack signee Sam Russ

Why she chose NC State – "I chose NC State because it provides the perfect balance of excellent academics and athletics where I know that I'll be surrounded by great
peers, coaches, and teammates. The great softball program and endless opportunities for advancement are what really put NC State above everyone else."

Rychcik on Woodall – "Kama will add another strong arm to our pitching staff. She plays on a really good travel ball program and she's going to be a power pitcher for us. She moves the ball in and out and throws hard. She has great composure and great mechanics on the mound, which will allow her to come in as a pretty polished pitcher and able to contribute right away.

FloSoftball on Woodall – "Kama is the ace of the Florida-based Hurricanes due to her excellent screwball--which she throws inside to righty batters--and her curve and change which she can throw to all zones. Kama won several state titles and All-State selections before transferring to another school where she dominated again at a higher classification, 6A, going 18-2 with a 0.76 ERA and 163 K's in 138 innings. She committed to NC State in August of 2014 turning down interest from schools in the ACC and Pac-12."

NC State Softball Announces Nation’s 19th-Ranked Recruiting Class

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