Madison sophomore Savannah Rice has committed to play college softball for Western Carolina University.
MARSHALL – Savannah Rice was full of poise every time she was called upon as a freshman.
Western Carolina University took notice.
The Catamounts have picked up a verbal commitment from one of the best young players in mountain softball.
Rice was an All-Western Highlands Conference pitcher/utility player for WHC champion Madison (22-2) last spring.
The sophomore was 7-1 in the circle as a ninth grader with a 1.56 earned-run average and 58 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched. At the plate, Rice batted .303 with 21 RBIs, four doubles and two home runs. She played right field when she wasn’t pitching for the Patriots.
“There is no more pressure (after the commitment),” Rice said.
“It relieves a little bit of stress. Now I can relax, just have fun and play ball.”
Rice has camped at WCU, North Carolina and Manhattan this summer in between her games for the Lady Lightning travel team out of Myrtle Beach (S.C.). The Catamounts partly enticed her with their academic offerings – Rice would like to pursue a career in interior design after graduating from college.
Madison only lost one regular season game last spring and expectations are naturally-high for 2017.
“The same as last year,” Rice said.
“We expect the best.”
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