For the past four years Morgan Bryant has served as a sparkplug for the Washington softball team and come next season the centerfielder will look to give Peace University a boost as she has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Div. III Pacers.
Bryant ended her stellar four-year career with the Pam Pack by batting .377 and stealing 23 bases in her senior season to earn all-Coastal Conference honors and said that she is thrilled to be moving on to the next level.
“I’m excited,” Bryant said. “I was a little indecisive about playing but I was looking into Peace anyway so I decided to email (Pacers coach) Charlie (Dobbins) and told him that I was interested in their softball program and that I wanted to go to Peace and visit them.”
It was a visit that left both parties happy as Bryant received a scholarship and the Pacers received a speedy outfielder who can bat just about anywhere in the lineup.
Bryant, whose versatility also extends to defense where she can play any of the three outfield spots, was told that she has potential to challenge for a starting position right away.
“(Dobbins) sounded pretty confident that I can be somewhere in the lineup,” Bryant said. “I feel like I can possibly have a starting spot because of my speed.”
Bryant’s parents, Jonathan and Kay Baker, were also happy to see Morgan continue her scholastic and athletic career at Peace, which is located in Raleigh.
“I’m just happy to see her further her education and be able to play the sport that she loves while she’s doing it,” Jonathan said.
Kay said that she was pleased, not only with the school and its softball program, but with all the intangible aspects of Peace University.
“I’m excited that she is getting to go to a school that she wanted to go to and play,” Kay said. “The campus is absolutely gorgeous and I feel real comfortable about her being there. Everybody we have met there so far has been really nice and has gone above and beyond for us.”
Washington softball coach Doug Whitehead was happy to see the Peace staff bend its back for Bryant, who has always done the same for the Pam Pack.
“She has been for the most part a four-year starter and has had one of the highest batting averages on the team in that time,” Whitehead said. “Defensively, she covers a lot of ground … She felt at home at centerfield and she took a lot of hits away, there’s no doubt about it. She also has a deadly arm. She will be nearly impossible to replace but we will do the best we can.”
After watching her star for Washington Whitehead said that he feels she can go to the next level and do the same.
“I absolutely think she can jump right in,” Whitehead said. “The pitching might take a little bit of time to adjust to but the travel ball she has played, along with the pitching competition she has faced in conference which is always exceptional, has prepared her well for it.”