GWU Softball Signs Two More For 2009-10
June 23, 2009 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Head softball coach Tom Cole, in conjunction with the Gardner-Webb Athletics Department, has announced the signing of Jessica Lynn Milligan and Presley Ann Wesson to National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and playing careers at Gardner-Webb University.
Milligan, who hails from Laurinburg, N.C., played at Scotland High
School under Coach Patrick Williams. Milligan, who can both pitch
and play first base, posted a 72-17 record in the circle in her
four-years at Scotland High, collecting 709 strikeouts along the
way.
At the plate, Milligan batted over .275 three times including
hitting a stellar .333 as a sophomore in 2007.
With post-season awards and recognition still being released for
this season, Milligan has twice been named to the All-State and
All-District Teams and was also named to the All-Region team last
season as a junior. Milligan has been named the Scotland High
School Defensive Player of the Year all four years and has been
named to the Mid-Southeastern 4-A All-Conference team all four
seasons, including twice being named the Mid-Southeastern Player of
the Year in her sophomore and junior seasons.
Milligan, who was a Silver Medalist at the North Carolina State
Games in 2007 and a Gold Medalist in 2008, was also named the
All-District Pitcher of the Year in 2008 as a junior.
The 5-7 pitcher, who played club ball for the Carolina Angels,
Carolina Flames and Carolina Wildcats, was named the 2009 Female
Scholar-Athlete of the Year at Scotland H.S.
Milligan, who was also a member of the volleyball team at Scotland
H.S., was also a member of the National Honor Society, a Junior
Marshal and a recipient of the Outstanding Academic Achievement
Award.
Wesson, who is also a 5-7 right-handed pitcher, comes to
Gardner-Webb from Gulfport, Mississippi where she played at
Gulfport High School under Coach Wesson, Coach Naramore and Coach
Milton.
In her last two seasons at Gulfport H.S., Wesson picked up 461
strikeouts while posting an ERA under .800. She was named the Team
MVP as a freshman and when on to receive the Best Defensive Player
Award in both her sophomore and junior seasons.
As a junior, Wesson also received the Lady Admiral Award and the
Outstanding GPA Award for her work both on the field and in the
classroom.
Wesson was named to the All-Conference Team as both a junior and
senior, while in 2009 her final season she was named the MVP, to
the All-District Team and helped guide her team to second runner-up
in the State Championships.
Wesson, who also played for the Mississippi Pride Club Team under
John Burri, helped lead her team to First-place at the State
Tournament (Mississippi ASA) and First-place at the Nationals ASA
– Southern Region in 2008.
"We are extremely happy to have Jessica Milligan and Presley Wesson
join the softball program at Gardner-Webb," stated Coach Cole.
"They are two outstanding young ladies who are also very talented
pitchers. We feel that they will both be able to begin
contributing as freshmen."
Milligan and Wesson will join GWU early signee Jordyn Arrowood for
the 2009 recruiting class come this August.
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