Pace’s Taylor Wade is all smiles as she has what she has been wanting, a softball scholarship to continue her career.
The Pace pitcher on Friday signed a scholarship with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla.
For Wade she didn’t rush into a decision, but got what she wanted.
“I am so excited,” Wade said. “Now I can relax and enjoy my senior year knowing I have four more years to play after this.
“The offer I got from Florida Gulf Coast was just too good to turn down.”
Wade, who is expected to be one of the stronger pitchers in Northwest Florida this season, was courted by the likes of Georgia State, Young-Harris University, and Elon University, but it is the Eagles who got her signature.
“I love the school and the coaches,” Wade said. “They have played Division I softball for about five years and I am real excited to become a part of the team.”
Despite being a new program in Division I, the Eagles have established a quick tradition in the Atlantic Sun Conference against the likes of Kennesaw State, USC Upstate, Lipscomb, Jacksonville, Stetson, North Florida, Belmont, Mercer, and East Tennessee State University.
During their five years they have two A-Sun regular season conference titles, the 2012 A-Sun Tournament title, and 15 A-Sun All-Conference selections.
Last season FGCU went 38-24 overall and 14-4 in conference play.
So what does Wade expect when she arrives in Fort Myers.
“The coaches told me they will have four pitchers this season, two starters and two relievers,” Wade said. “They told me you get the spot you earn.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Wade to pitch at FGCU