April 26, 2011

by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina head softball coach Beverly Smith added Olivia Lawrence to her first signing class, making the Woodstown, N.J., native the fourth signee for next year’s team.

A catcher and first baseman, Lawrence played at Gloucester Catholic in the southern part of New Jersey, helping the Rams to the 2010 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B title. A first-team All-Gloucester County selection last year, she hit eight home runs and posted a .369 batting average as a junior. Lawrence also earned many other accolades, including a spot on the Philadelphia Inquirer’s All-South Jersey first team and a second-team selection to the non-public league state team as selected by the Newark Star-Ledger. She previously earned All-Salem County honors as a freshman at Woodstown High School.

“Olivia is a great addition to the 2011 signing class,” said Smith. “Olivia offers depth for us defensively both behind the plate and at the corners. What excites me the most is the left-handed power she will present at the plate. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Olivia and her family. They all will be great Gamecocks!”

During the summers, Lawrence has played on the New Jersey Mystics Gold team, coached by Stacey Jackson. Lawrence is an honor roll member at GCHS and has volunteered with the Special Olympics and the Miracle baseball league. She chose the University of South Carolina because of the great academic and athletics and the family atmosphere around the team. She also wanted to play in the best softball conference in the country and be able to play in great weather year-round.