Friday afternoon, Milton High school celebrated Whitney Dowell, softball star, officially signing on with Gulf Coast State College in Panama City. She was joined by her family, friends, teammates, coaches, and GC’s head softball coach, Beth Wade. Dowell not only plays for Milton High School but also West Florida Elite, a female athlete development organization in softball out of Pensacola. Wade said WFE came to play GCSC back in September. “She showed out a little bit,” she said an described her as a consistent player, “the dirtiest kid on the field.” During the press conference, Wade also said Dowell would have the potential to play two years after her time at GCSC at another university. As was her main position with WFE, Wade said Dowell would be mostly catching with the GCSC Commodores, but said she can play multiple positions.
Dowell said she found out through her recruiting agent about the opportunity. She said she looked at other schools but she, “didn’t feel at home anywhere else.” Dowell said she’s looking forward to the move to Panama City since she has family in the area and is relieved to have school paid for.
GCSC can look forward to player with three homeruns last high school season and, Dowell said, four or five with WFE.
“I hardly ever struck out,” she said. Her coach with Milton, Danny Worrell, said she’s got a cannon for an arm and pulled off a “very clutch hit” against Escambia High School. Milton still has Dowell on the roster as the Panthers aim to take advantage of their number one seed in the district tournament with the final four ahead.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Girls softball: Dowell signs with Gulf Coast State College