ROCKINGHAM — Savannah Lampley had no idea what was happening when she was asked to stay after the UNC-Wilmington softball program wrapped up its camp Monday evening.

It was no secret there was mutual interest — Lampley visited the school in April and the coaching staff came to watch a few games this past season — but the rising junior didn’t think she was about to receive her first-ever scholarship offer.

“I wasn’t really expecting that,” she said. “I was so excited.”

Lampley’s excitement, paired with her love for the school, led to her verbal commitment to play for the Lady Seahawks following her graduation from Richmond Senior High in 2019.

“Wilmington just seemed like the perfect fit. I really like the coaches, the campus is beautiful, it’s at the beach and I just love how it’s like a family if you play softball there,” Lampley explained. “It’s just a great school and I love everything about it. That’s why I said yes right there.”

The Lady Seahawks softball program shared the excitement, with its official twitter account sending out a tweet Monday night that read, “On campus offers that end in a YES are always exciting! A NC lefty hitter/ utility defender joins our family today.”

Lampley was one of three softball players from North Carolina to commit to UNC-Wilmington following the camp.

“I would just like to thank my family for always believing in me and pushing me to be my best. And I’d like to thank coach (Wendy) Wallace for helping me in the whole recruiting process,” Lampley said. “I’d also like to thank coach (Brad) Denson, because he’s the one who mentioned me to the coaches up there…That’s how it all started.”

Because the commitment comes after her sophomore year, Lampley can finish out her career without the pressures of having to make a decision on where she wants to go to college — calling the early decision a “relief.”

For the moment, Lampley is focusing on getting faster and gaining “a little bit more power” during her summer days with the 16u SEC Elite travel softball team. When Richmond’s season rolls around next year, she’s hoping to expand on her own — and the team’s — success from this past season.

The left-handed infielder, who was recently named to both the 2017 All-Southeastern Conference team and the 2017 4A All-District 4 team, finished her second season with a .514 batting average, recorded 54 hits and 16 doubles and stole 16 bases — which were all team-highs.

Those numbers helped the Lady Raiders make it through conference play undefeated and reach the Regional Finals for the first time in program history, where she was responsible for two of the four runs (sacrifice fly, RBI single) Richmond scored in both games against North Davidson.

“That was a really big step in our program because nobody’s ever made it that far,” Lampley said. “And now that we know what it feels like, I’m hoping next year we can go even further, make to the state championship and hopefully bring home a ring.”

It’ll be a while before Richmond can put itself in a position to compete for a state championship, so for right now, Lampley will enjoy her commitment to the school at the beach.

“I’m just really grateful because it’s always been my dream to play Division I softball,” Lampley added.

Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.

Daily Journal file photo
Richmond Senior’s Savannah Lampley verbally committed to UNC Wilmington on Monday evening. The rising junior, who led the Lady Raiders in multiple statistical categories this past season, was recently named to the 2017 4A All-District 4 team.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_lampleyweb.jpgDaily Journal file photo
Richmond Senior’s Savannah Lampley verbally committed to UNC Wilmington on Monday evening. The rising junior, who led the Lady Raiders in multiple statistical categories this past season, was recently named to the 2017 4A All-District 4 team.
Rising junior unexpectedly receives scholarship offer

By Leon Hargrove Jr.

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