Greenville, S.C. – Nine newcomers are set to join the Furman softball program and begin preparations for the 2025 season, according to Paladin head coach
Stacey Johnson-Whitfield.
Logan Gunter (Silk Hope, N.C.), Rachel Hawkins (Miami, Fla.), Hope Marshburn (Clover, S.C.), Sydney McGuirk (Excelsior, Minn.), Lily O'Bryan (Cleveland, Tenn.), Katie Peeler (Salisbury, N.C.), Madison Petty (Dade City, Fla.), Gracie Scott (Lexington, S.C.), and Kate Stoltzfus (Fair Play, S.C.) will begin classes at Furman later this month.
"We have a very large freshman class this year that will bring a lot of power and versatility to our team," said Johnson-Whitfield, who is entering her fourth year as head coach at Furman. "With so many seniors graduating after this past season, Furman softball will have a new look this year. Each of our incoming freshman played travel ball at the highest level which will help them be better prepared to make an immediate impact this season."
Gunter, capable of playing in the infield or as an outfielder, is a recent graduate of Jordan-Matthews High School. A 2023 and 2024 North Carolina Softball Coaches Association All-State choice, she was named 2A West Division Player of the Year as a senior while helping the Jets to a 20-5 record, conference championship, and a trip to the fourth round of the North Carolina state playoffs. Gunter hit .515, hammered four home runs, and drove in 23 runs as a senior. The left-handed hitter played her travel ball for Bandits Elite Premiere.
A graduate of Coral Reef Senior High School, Hawkins was a four-time Miami Herald All-Dade County selection and earned Dade County Player of the Year honors in 2023. The third baseman hit .417 with a school-record 19 home runs and drove in 108 runs during her four years at Coral Reef. As a senior, she clubbed nine homers and batted in 27 runs while guiding the Barracudas to a 19-9 overall record and 7A District 16 title. Hawkins played her travel ball for Rock Gold helping her club to a third place finish at the PGF Nationals in 2023 and third place showing at the Top Gun Invitational in 2024.
Marshburn is a product of Clover High School where she was a standout in the outfield. The South Carolina North/South All-Star Game selection guided the Eagles to three consecutive Region 3-5A championships and three straight District 2 titles. Clover's Athlete of the Month for May, Marshburn helped the Eagles to a 22-7 record as a senior.
McGuirk graduated from Hoy Family Catholic High School in Victoria, Minn. She earned second team all-state honors and academic all-state accolades as a senior while leading the Fire and ranking among the state's home run leaders as a junior and senior. The catcher, who began her prep career at Blake High School, was a four-time all-conference and all-section choice. She earned team MVP honors as a senior.
A graduate of Cleveland High School, O'Bryan was a two-time Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps honoree and three-time Tennessee Division 1-4A choice for the Lady Raiders. The 2023-24 Cleveland High School Female Athlete of the Year batted won 26 games in the circle, posted a 2.96 ERA and fanned 274 batters during her prep career while batting .391 with 16 career homers. As a senior, O'Bryan led Cleveland to its first ever region regular season and tournament titles. On the volleyball court, she propelled the Lady Raiders to back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024 en route to earning district player of the year honors as a senior.
Peeler fashioned a standout career at Salisbury High School. The outfielder garnered 2024 North Carolina All-State honors and was named Central Carolina Conference Player of the Year after batting .558 with five homers and 21 RBIs. She was a three-time all-conference, all-region and all-county choice. Peeler received Ludwig Salisbury Female Athlete of the Year honors following her senior season. Also a standout on the volleyball court, Peeler played her travel softball for Carolina Elite.
Petty played her prep career at Pasco High School where she helped guide the Pirates to a District 5-5A championship as a junior. The catcher earned all-conference honors in all four seasons, including first team all-conference accolades as a junior and senior. She played her travel ball for NJ Intensity KOD and helped her team claim the Triple Crown championship in 2023.
Scott graduated in 2024 from Lexington High School where she starred as a first baseman and outfielder. She helped the Wildcats to an Upper State championship and state runner-up finish in 2024 and a lower state title and state runner-up finish as a sophomore in 2022. A Midlands All-Area selection and two-time player of the week choice by The State Newspaper, she was selected to the South Carolina North/South All-Star game as a senior. Scott played her travel ball for Team NC-Eley.
A graduate of West-Oak High School, Stoltzfus was a star middle infielder for the Warriors. The shortstop batted .514 with 11 home runs and drove in 32 runs as a senior to capture team MVP and offensive MVP honors. Stoltzfus garnered All-Region 1-3A laurels as a senior. She played her travel ball for Carolina Elite Maddaluna.
Furman Softball Newcomers
Name Pos. Ht. B/T Hometown High School
Logan Gunter SS/OF 5-7 L/R Silk Hope, N.C. Jordan-Matthews H.S.
Rachel Hawkins 3B 5-10 R/R Miami, Fla. Coral Reef Senior H.S.
Hope Marshburn OF 5-9 R/R Clover, S.C. Clover H.S.
Sydney McGuirk C 6-0 R/R Excelsior, Minn. Holy Family Catholic
Lily O'Bryan P/UT 5-9 R/R Cleveland, Tenn. Cleveland H.S.
Katie Peeler OF 5-6 R/R Salisbury, N.C. Salisbury H.S.
Madison Petty C 5-10 R/R Dade City, Fla. Pasco H.S.
Gracie Scott 1B/OF 5-10 R/R Lexington, S.C. Lexington H.S.
Kate Stoltzfus 2B/SS 5-6 R/R Fair Play, S.C. West-Oak H.S.
