BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell softball head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley has announced the signing of seven to the program's class of 2022.
"This 2022 group is the most athletic and dynamic class we have signed in my time here at Campbell," said McDonald-Kelley. "I am excited to see the impact that these athletes make on our program and I'm very excited for the future of Campbell softball."
The 2022 class includes outfielders Jamaria Charley, Charlie Montgomery, Allyiah Swiney, catchers Gabbie Evans, Aubrey Hutzler and infielders Madilyn Gillespie and Makayla McClain.
Jamaria "Jae" Charley
Outfielder // St. Matthews, S.C. // Gray Collegiate Academy
Personal/Prep
- Attends Gray Collegiate Academy in West Columbia, SC and plays under head coach Doug Frye
- Freshman year recorded a .509 BA, .581 OBP, .698 SLG, and 24-for-24 on stolen bases
- Junior year recorded a .473 BA, .586 OBP, .745 SLG, and was 25-for-25 on stolen bases
- 2x All-Region and 2021 Offensive Player-of-the-Year
- War Eagle Strength Lifter-of-the-Year (2020-2021)
- Plays travel ball for Lady Lightning Gold Pedy 18U under head coach Pedy Roberts
- Born March 19, 2004 and has three siblings: Kyara, Dante, and DeAnna
- Intended major is nursing
- Plans to become a traveling nurse after graduation
Why she chose Campbell Softball: "I love the environment athletically and academically. They have a great softball program along with a great nursing program. The coaches are amazing and I can't wait to be a Camel!"
Coach Sho on Jamaria Charley: "Jamaria is a rare talent of power and speed. Jamaria has the ability to hit it out of the park or beat out a bunt single. She is a fun player to watch. She comes in a small package but you better watch out, she is tough!"
Charlie Montgomery
Outfielder // Wesley Chapel, Fla. // Cypress Creek HS
Personal/Prep
- Born November 20, 2003 in Anchorage, Alaska and has one sibling, Bannon
- Currently lives in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
- Plays at Cypress Creek High School under head coach Jenelle Day
- Also played at Eastern Wayne High School under head coach Michael Gurganus, and played abroad in Italy her freshman year at Smiling International School
- In 2021, at Cypress Creek HS, recorded a .818 BA, .867 OBP, 1.455 SLG, and 24 stolen bases
- All-Conference 2021
- Plays travel ball for the Florida Impact-Feldman under head coach Greg Feldman
- Recorded a .453 BA, .505 OBP, and 39 stolen bases in the 2021 travel ball season
- NC American Legion Senior State All-State selection 2020
- NC American Legion Senior State Runner-Ups
- Also played volleyball (2020 Volleyball Team MVP), baseball (led baseball team in OBP in 2021), and ran track (finished 9th the state in the 4 x 100 relay)
- Intended major is Exercise Science
- Plans to obtain a master's degree in nutrition/dietetics
Why she chose Campbell Softball: "Campbell has a pathway for me to become a dietitian; and I fell in love with the small town feel, the dynamic of the team, and the style of the coaches."
Coach Sho on Charlie Montgomery: "Charlie is a very intelligent, dynamic athlete. She is a slap hitter with a ton of speed with the ability to put a lot of pressure on a defense. In the outfield she can cover a lot of ground and make it look easy. She has a strong arm that the opposition is not going to want to test."
Allyiah Swiney
Outfielder // Hamlet, N.C. // Richmond Senior HS
Personal/Prep
- Extra Innings softball ranked #71 in class of 2022
- Outfielder out of Richmond Senior HS in Rockingham, N.C. playing under Wendy Wallace and Mike Way
- Held a .395 batting average and .462 on base percentage, led conference in home runs her junior year in 2021
- Two-time all-conference selection
- Plays travel ball for Tennessee Mojo under head coach Josh Fisher
- Batted .342 with a .384 OBP and six home runs with the Mojo in 2021
- Played basketball and volleyball at Richmond Senior HS, earning all-conference honors in volleyball in 2021
- Father, Lemuel, played football for four years at UNC
- Sister, Allexis, is on acrobatics and tumbling team at Coker College
- Intended major is health and physical education
- Plans to obtain teach or work in the medical field along with becoming a coach following graduation
Why she chose Campbell Softball: "I want to be somewhere I knew I could grow both in and outside the game and I felt like Campbell was perfect. It felt the most like home."
Coach Sho on Allyiah Swiney: "Allyiah is a top recruit in the country that has an ability to make an immediate impact on our program. She is a dynamic player that opposing teams do not want to see come to the plate. I expect Allyiah to make a huge mark as a Camel and I'm very excited to watch her career unfold."
Gabbie Evans
Catcher // South Bend, Ind. // Roncalli HS
Personal/Prep
- Extra Inning softball ranked #146 in class of 2022 class
- Extra Inning softball ranked #56 catcher in 2022 class
- Plays at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis, Ind.
- National Honor Society First Honors
- Plays travel ball for the EC Bullets Schnute under head coach Greg Schnute
- Ranked 56th catcher and 146th overall player by Extra Innings
- Born February 24, 2004 and has one sibling, Christian
- Intended major is Sport Coaching
- Plans to coach in college or professional softball
Why she chose Campbell Softball: "I chose Campbell softball because it was the first time I felt a college and program cared about me as a player. They truly made me feel at home and comfortable enough to be myself. Also, Campbell has the best coaching staff."
Coach Sho on Gabbie Evans: "Gabbie is that player that you will love to watch compete. She is a highly ranked recruit that plays with a ton of passion and grit that is contagious to those around her. She can hit for power and can change the game with one swing. Gabbie does a great job commanding and leading the field as a catcher and I'm very excited to see her compete as a Camel!"
Aubrey Hutzler
Catcher // Van Alstyne, Texas // John Paul II HS
Personal/Prep
- Currently attends John Paul II HS in Plano, TX and plays under head coach Jayme Baker-Nelson and Romeo Calhoun
- Helped John Paul II HS become 2021 TAPPS Division I State Champions and was named to the State All-Tournament Team
- Played freshman and sophomore seasons at McKinney High School under head coach Tyler Elders
- Awarded Academic All-District and District Honorable Mention (2019)
- Awarded Team MVP, 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All-State, Academic All-State, Catch-of-the-Year (2021)
- Throughout high school seasons, has recorded a .426 BA, .510 OBP, .613 SLG, 58 RBI
- Plays travel ball for the Impact Gold National Rodriguez 18U under head coach Bri Rodriguez
- Earned a .395 BA, .495 OBP, .630 SLG, and 92 RBI (Fall 2019-Summer 2021)
- Born August 8, 2004 and has one sibling, Hayden
- Intended major is Clinical Research
- Plans to go to graduate school and obtain a PhD in immunology or virology
Why she chose Campbell Softball: "I chose Campbell because this felt like an environment that I could thrive in academically and athletically. I loved the coaches the first time I talked to them and the first time I stepped on campus it felt like home. I cannot wait to officially be a part of the Campbell Fighting Camel family."
Coach Sho on Aubrey Hutzler: "Aubrey is a catcher with a high softball IQ. She has a quiet steadiness about her that will add greatly to our team and culture."
Madilyn Gillespie
Infielder // Bishop, Ga. // Prince Avenue Christian
Personal/Prep
- Infielder at Prince Avenue Christian playing under Phil Roberts and Donnie Byrom
- Has recorded 146 hits (50 for extra bases), 111 RBI and scored 114 runs in 131 games at Prince Avenue Christian
- Spent time playing every position in the field, except catcher, and has only four errors in 205 opportunities
- Has also spent time in the circle as a starting pitcher throwing 178 innings in 32 games compiling a 20-10 record with 115 strikeouts and a 2.46 ERA
- 2020 USA Today Northeast Player of the Year runner-up
- Named to first team All-Region and second team All-State following the 2019-20 season
- Two-time first team All-Area selection
- Played travel ball with EC Bullets under head coach Troy Glenn where she's recorded a .422 batting average with 167 hits (including 44 for extra bases), 118 RBI and 137 runs over three seasons
- Helped lead EC Bullets to first place finish at the Alliance Fastpitch National Championship in 2021
- Plans to major in health and sciences
- Intends to obtain a job in exercise science field and coach, along with furthering her education upon obtaining her undergraduate degree
- Dream job is with physical therapy, focusing on rehabilitation services with geriatric patients
Why she chose Campbell Softball: "I chose Campbell for the beautiful and small campus. It's a good area where I can get a good education. The amazing and supportive coaching staff also is a big factor why I chose Campbell."
Coach Sho on Madilyn Gillespie: "Madi is a tough, hardworking ballplayer. She is steady on defense and has the ability to make some very special plays. Madi brings a powerful bat that I expect will have a lot of success in the middle of our lineup."
Makayla McClain
Infielder // Ramseur, N.C. // Providence Grove HS
Personal/Prep
- Attends Providence Grove High School in Climax, NC under head coaches Tim Brown and Andy Bean
- 3X All-Conference and 2021 Co-MVP
- 2019 Softball season recorded .578 BA, .552 OBP, 32 RBI, 28 Runs
- 2020 Softball season recorded .476 OBP, .577 BA, 10 RBI, 9 Runs
- 2021 Softball season recorded .579 OBP, .614 BA, 22 RBI, 17 Runs,
- Track and Field 2021 All-Conference
- Basketball All-District Award 2018-2019
- Played travel ball for the NC Challengers under head coach Adam Renzi
- Born October 9, 2003 and has two siblings, Tyler and Bradley
- Plans to own a business in the future
Why she chose Campbell Softball: "I really like the campus and all of the people there. They have great academics and amazing sports that love to win."
Coach Sho on Makayla McClain: "Makayla is a shortstop with a ton of range on defense, one of the strongest arms I've seen and has an ability to make some really tough plays look routine. She can swing the bat with a lot of speed and overall is that gritty ballplayer that shines on the field."
Campbell is coming off a historic season in 2021, winning both Big South regular season an tournament titles. The Camels earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, claiming their first win at the national tournament since 2008 at the Stillwater Regional.
