Softball Adds Five In Early Signing Period

RALEIGH – The NC State softball team has added five players in the early signing period, as announced by first-year head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift on Wednesday.

This is the first signing class under Patrick-Swift's leadership, as Bailee Bryant, Sam Gress, Grace Johnson, Keisha White and Libby Whittaker have signed a National Letter of Intent. All five are slated to arrive in Raleigh in the fall of 2019.

"This class is filled with recruits that Wolfpack Nation will be happy to see wear the red and white, as they're expecting to come in and compete for ACC Championships," said Patrick-Swift.

"Our first recruiting class comes with players that fit our style in the box, and already play with our home run mindset. They know what we teach and are "all in" with our program standards and expectations.

"All five are a great fit for what we are trying to accomplish here at NC State, both on and off the field."

107568

Bailee Bryant
Holden, Mo. | IF | R/R | KC Zephyrs - Corona

Named to the all-district and all-conference first teams all four years
Garnered all-region honors in 2017 and '18
She currently ranks second in the state of Missouri for most RBI in a single season, and holds the school record at Holden High School for most home runs in a single season
Earned academic all-state honors twice and was a member of the National Honor Society for three years

Patrick-Swift on Bryant: "Bailee is the type of player that exhibits what our program stands for, and we can't wait to get to coach her at NC State. She's already bought in to what we are doing as a coaching staff, and we're excited to see the player she becomes. Hitting the long ball is a weapon in her repertoire as well."

107569

Sam Gress
Harrisburg, Pa. | P/IF | R/R | Gold Coast Hurricanes

Named Mid Penn Commonwealth Division Honorable Mention as a freshman
Earned Mid Penn Commonwealth Division First Team All-Star honors as a sophomore and second team all-star honors her junior year
Additionally, received PennLive All-Area First Team All-Star honors as a junior
In her sophomore season at Central Dauphin High School, she gave up one earned run in 51.2 innings, and in her junior year led her team to a district championship title after throwing three consecutive shutouts
Owns a .382 batting average with 12 career home runs heading into her senior season
Also a member of the women's basketball (two years) and golf teams (two years) at Central Dauphin
In the classroom, she has been an honor roll student for the past three years

Patrick-Swift On Gress: "Sam can compete at a high level on the mound and in the box. She brings the ability to help win games in both of those areas. It's not very often a team gets a strikeout pitcher and a home run hitter together in one player, so we're looking for her to be a special player for the Pack. In our first recruiting class, it was important to have a player like this in it."

107570

Grace Johnson
High Point, N.C. | UT | R/R | Firecrackers NC Gontram 18U

Named all-conference the past three seasons at Northwest Guilford High School, as well as MVP in 2016 and Piedmont Triad All-Conference Player of the Year in 2017
Earned 4A District 5 All-District honors in 2017 and was named Player of the Year in 2018
Additionally was named to the all-state team in 2017 and '18
Helped her team (District 5) win gold at the Powerade State Games in 2017 and '18
Also was a three-time all-conference selection for volleyball at Northwest Guilford, as she helped her team win three consecutive conference championships (2016-18) and make a run to the 4A Final 8 state championship
In the classroom she is an honor roll recipient (2016-18), and has earned a combined three scholar-athlete awards as a member of the softball and volleyball teams

Patrick-Swift on Johnson: "Grace is a player that doesn't get cheated in the box. She's going to bring solid leadership and communication skills to our program, as she is a natural-born leader. Along with her hitting for power, she's going to be able to help us in several areas. She's a North Carolina product, and we're excited to keep her in-state and have her wear the red and white."

107571

Keisha White
Salt Lake City, Utah | OF | R/R | Firecrackers Rollin, UT

Named to the all-state first team as a freshman and junior, and earned all-region first-team honors as a freshman and sophomore
Helped West High School to a state championship in 2017, as well as finishing runner up in 2016 and placing third in 2018
As a freshman she was featured on #SCTop10 with the number one play, and checked in at No. 3 on Max Preps top 10 plays of the year after flying over the fence to rob a home run
Named Region 6 MVP and Larry H. Miller Player of the Week as a junior
Helped her club team, Firecrackers Rollin, UT, win the PGF Championship in 2017
Also plays basketball and runs track at West High. Has helped her team advance to the basketball state playoffs and competed in the track state championships the past three years
In basketball she set a single-game record with 19 rebounds, and in track placed second in the 4x100 relay her junior year
Competed in the USATF Junior Olympics her freshman year
An honor roll recipient every semester

Patrick-Swift on White: "Keisha is an all-around athlete that the ACC will get to know early in her career. Her ability to go catch the ball all over the outfield is off the charts, and seeing her offensive production continue to mature over the past few years makes us excited. She can run the ball out of the park, and she also brings speed and that defensive pressure to the game."

107572

Libby Whittaker
Mifflinburg, Pa. | IF | R/R | Team Pennsylvania

Named second team all-state in 2017 and '18, as well as Offensive Player of the Year both seasons at Mifflinburg Area High School
Earned All-Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference and Daily Item All-Star honors every year
Received the all-round MVP award in 2018
Was also a four-year varsity starter in basketball and field hockey
Helped her softball team to a conference title in 2016 and district championship in 2017
In 2018 she helped her basketball and field hockey teams to district titles
A member of the National Honor Society all four years of high school

Patrick-Swift on Whittaker: "Libby is a strong young lady that will not only help us in the box, but also defensively at first base. We're excited to get to work with her and to see the complete hitter we know she will become here at NC State."

Related Videos