Tom Cole Announces Five Additions to Softball Program
November 14, 2019 | Softball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Head softball coach Tom Cole announced the addition of five student-athletes to the Gardner-Webb softball program as part of National Signing Day on Wednesday afternoon. The five players will join Gardner-Webb for the 2021 season.
Sydney Gilbert, Ramsey Schlafer, Katie Mitchell, Baylee Short and Summer Deaton will all become members of the Runnin' Bulldogs' softball program after they graduate in May 2020. All five hail from the state of North Carolina.
"This year we will have a roster of twenty-one players with only one player graduating," said Cole. "With a roster of twenty players returning we were only looking to bring in a few players for the 2020-2021 season. I am very happy with the class that we are bringing in."
Sydney Gilbert (Hendersonville, N.C. / Brevard HS) has won three varsity letters as a pitcher and first baseman at Brevard High School. She plays for coach David McNeil. In the circle, Gilbert has struck out an impressive 541 batters and holds an ERA under 2.00 (1.82). She has appeared in 70 contests as a pitcher and thrown 438 innings. She has tossed 11 shutouts and 66 complete games with a career record of 54-16. As a team, the Brevard Blue Devils have gone 55-16 in the past three seasons with Gilbert recording all but one win.
At the plate, Gilbert has a .462 batting average with 97 RBI through three seasons. She has recorded 71 singles, 24 doubles, 2 triples and six home runs while striking out just 17 times in 71 games.
Brevard has made an appearance in the NCHSAA each of the past three seasons. The Blue Devils were the 2017 Grand Strand Classic Championships and runner-ups in 2018 and 2019.
On the individual level, Gilbert was the 2018 and 2019 All-Area Player of the Year and was also named All-District and All-State last season, in addition to being named Brevard's Offensive Player of the Year. Following her sophomore campaign in 2018, she was named the Area Player of the Year and Team MVP, while she received All-District and All-State recognition in addition to Brevard Defensive Player of the Year honors as a freshman. Following her first varsity season, she was named a USSSA Futures All-American.
Gilbert played club softball for the Carolina Heat and head coach Hugh Green. She holds a 3.78 GPA in the classroom and was named a 2018 Transylvania County Scholar. She is still deciding on a major.
"Sydney is a very talented pitcher/1st baseman who can also hit," said Cole. "We are very excited about Sydney. In high school she has struck out 541 batters in 438 innings pitched and has an ERA of 1.82. As a hitter she has hit .462, and she hits with power. As good as her high school career has been, we believe that with her attitude and work ethic, her best years lie ahead of her."
Ramsey Schlafer (Wake Forest, N.C. / Wake Forest HS) is the oldest child of Shawn and Shannon Schlafer and is a two-sport athlete at Wake Forest High School. She has played volleyball and softball for the Cougars. On the softball field, Schlafer is a pitcher and outfielder. She has helped head coach Brittany Owens' squad to a 38-28 record since 2017. Schlafer and the Cougars have made three consecutive state tournament appearances during her time with the team.
In the circle, she has an ERA of 4.57 and has also stepped into the batter's box often. She holds a .382 batting average for her career. The 5-foot-9 Schlafer has been solid in the field, recording a .945 fielding percentage to date. She has been named to the All-Conference squad for both her athletic and academic abilities each of the basic three seasons. Additionally, she was the Cougars' Defensive MVP in 2019 and earned both All-District and All-State honors in 2017 and 2019. An honor roll student, Schlafer intends to major in biology when she enrolls at Gardner-Webb.
Coach Cole stated, "Ramsey is a very athletic pitcher, outfielder and hitter. "She's a pure lefty, and we believe that she will contribute in many ways. I first saw her as a pitcher, but the more I have watched her the more impressed I have been with her outfield skills, her ability to hit and her athleticism. Ramsey will compete; and will be a definite asset to the program."
Katie Mitchell (Four Oaks, N.C. / South Johnston HS) comes to Gardner-Webb University from South Johnston High School where she has earned numerous accolades on the field for South Johnston and head coach Ashley Ennis. Mitchell, a 5-foot-0, middle infielder and outfielder has impressive speed on the base paths. In the spring of 2019, she hit .528 as a junior with a .632 on-base percentage. She also swiped nine bases and had a .957 fielding percentage. In three seasons, Mitchell has led the Trojans to a 41-27 overall record and three state tournament appearances.
Mitchell was named Academic All-Conference each of the past three seasons. She earned All-Conference honors for her on-field performance following her sophomore and junior seasons and was named First-Team All-County for the first time last season.
Mitchell plays travel softball for the Williamsburg Starz Gold coached by Junior Pearce. She intends to major in sport management at Gardner-Webb.
"Katie is a very talented softball player," said Cole. "She is capable of playing second base and the outfield. She is both quick and fast, and because of this she will be an asset both offensively and defensively. We are very blessed to have Katie select Gardner-Webb to receive her college education and play softball."
Bailey Short (Bostic, N.C. / East Rutherford HS) has racked up numerous honors in the classroom and on the softball field. A 5-foot-5 outfielder, Short has won four varsity letters at East Rutherford HS. She has played for head coach Laura Hooper and recorded 53 hits over the past two seasons with a batting average greater than .400 in both seasons.
As a sophomore, she hit .429, and the following season, she brought her average closer to .500, finishing the campaign with a .471 average. The Cavaliers have gone 29-16 over the past two seasons with a pair of state tournament appearances. In 2018, the Cavaliers played one state playoff game, and increased that total to three last season with an appearance in the Sweet 16. Short played club softball for the Carolina Curve 18U squad which is under the direction of head coach David Wacaster.
In the classroom, Short has a stellar 4.64 GPA and has taken classes at Isothermal Community College. She is member of East Rutherford's chapter of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and Beta Club. Additionally, she is a Junior Marshall, New Century Scholar and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) member. She is CNA, CPR and OSHA certified. Short intends to major in exercise science when she enrolls at Gardner-Webb.
"I feel like I have known Baylee her entire life," said Cole. "I know I haven't, but it sure seems like I have. Baylee was a bat girl for us back in 2011. Baylee is another pure lefty. She plays the outfield, is athletic, and has good speed. Baylee is a well-rounded young lady who does extremely well in the classroom, is very involved in politics, and is destined to do great things."
Summer Deaton (Grover, N.C. / Kings Mountain HS) has had numerous accomplishments on and off the playing field. In the circle, she currently has a 23-6 record with a 2.80 ERA through three seasons of high school softball. Kings Mountain has gone 41-23 since Deaton has been a part of the Mountaineers' program and has made three consecutive appearances in the 3A state tournament.
Deaton has been a member of the All-Conference squad each of the past three seasons. In addition, she has been named to the All-Academic team for three consecutive years and was honored as the Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. She competes on the club circuit for Carolina Curve. Her club team was led by Chris Deaton.
In the classroom, Deaton has a stellar 4.2 GPA and intends to major in biology. She is a member of the Kings Mountain Chapter of the National Honor Society and Beta Club and is also the Career and Technical Education Honor Society Vice President.
"Summer is another local young lady who comes to Gardner-Webb as a pitcher," stated Cole. "She has had an outstanding career at Kings Mountain High School, where over three years her career ERA is 2.80. Summer is also very strong in the classroom. Although a very quiet young lady, Summer is a competitor who knows that it takes hard work to be successful."
The Gardner-Webb softball program will begin their 2020 campaign on Friday, February 7 when it hosts the Gardner-Webb University tournament, which is the first of four tournaments that will take place in Brinkley Stadium in 2020. Maryland Eastern Shore, Canisius and Youngstown State will travel to Boiling Springs for the opening weekend of the 2020 season.
