MOBILE, Ala. | University of South Alabama softball head coach Becky Clark announced the addition of Olivia Branstetter (Liberty, Mo.), Caitlyn Gavin (Jay, Fla.), Ryley Harrison (Fairhope, Ala.), Emily Mizelle (Mobile, Ala.), Molly Pitts (Mobile, Ala,), Amity White (Brundidge, Ala.) and Cadence Williams (Rising Sun, Md.) to the 2023-24 signing class on Wednesday. 

The group will join the Jaguar roster next fall in anticipation for the 2024 season.

Olivia Branstetter
5-5 | Infielder
Liberty, Mo. | Liberty High School | Aces Fastpitch

- Clark on Branstetter:
"Olivia will make an immediate impact on our program. She is a true competitor with tremendous tools and a high softball IQ. Defensively, she has great instincts and the athleticism to make all of the plays at 3B or SS.  Offensively, she is a middle of the order hitter who will hit for both average and power as well as drive in runs. Her work ethic, grit, and toughness make her a great fit for our program and we are excited to get her on campus next Fall."

Branstetter signs with South Alabama after lettering at Liberty High School in Liberty, Mo., where she helped the Blue Jays to 141 wins over six seasons.

The infielder – who was ranked 37th on the Extra Innings Elite 100 list – just completed her senior season where she led the Blue Jays to a deep run in the Missouri Class 5 state playoffs as Liberty finished with a 27-9 record and third in the state. She recorded 33 hits with 20 of those going for extra bases, and also registered nine doubles, four triples and seven home runs, while driving in 43. 

As a junior in 2021, Branstetter had 41 hits in her 93 at bats for a .441 batting average. She had two doubles, five triples and three home runs, while driving in 28 and scoring 23 runs. She was also ranked 45th on the Extra Innings Elite 100 list.

Branstetter – a three-time all-state honoree – earned second team Class 5 all-state honors from Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association in 2020 after setting a single-season doubles record at Liberty with 16. She also was a member of the Extra Innings All Summer Team 14U in summer of 2020.

Branstetter also earned all-district honors both as an infielder and as a catcher during her prep career.  She played 12 years of travel ball with the last three coming for Aces Fastpitch.

Caitlyn Gavin
5-5 | Infielder
Jay, Fla. | Jay High School | Alabama Thunderbolts

- Clark on Gavin:
"We love the way Caitlyn plays the game. She commits to all of the little things that add up to big moments. As a middle infielder, she has the tools to make all of the plays up the middle and in the hole. She loves the game and shows up to play every day. Offensively, she will work gap-to-gap with the ability to drive the ball out of the park as well. I am excited to see her growth and production once she gets in our system on a consistent basis."

A member of the varsity team since seventh grade, Gavin signs with the Jags after lettering at Jay High School in Jay, Fla. As a junior, Gavin batted .372, recording 32 hits, 23 runs scored and 17 RBI. Of her 32 hits, 10 went for extra bases that season, including seven doubles and a pair of home runs. She led Jay to Class 1A state championship in 2022 – program's first-ever softball state title – as the Royals finished with a 22-5 record.

Gavin batted .423 in 29 games during the 2021 season where she helped Jay to a 24-6 record. She drove in 39 with 33 hits and scored 33 runs, while also registering 12 home runs and four doubles. She was 5-for-5 with 6 RBI against Gulf Breeze and also drove in five in a postseason game against Holmes County.

Gavin is one of three members in the signee class – Harrison and Mizelle – to play travel ball for the Alabama Thunderbolts.

Ryley Harrison
6-0 | Pitcher
Fairhope, Ala. | Fairhope High School | Alabama Thunderbolts 

- Clark on Harrison:
"Ryley is one of the best overall players coming out of our state in the 2023 class. As a right-handed pitcher, she possesses a great combination of power and spin, which result in a ton of swing and misses. She will make an immediate impact on our bullpen as she continues to develop strength and gain experience. Ryley hits as well and has the ability to drive the ball to all parts of the field. Her character, grit, and work ethic are going to make her a very special player at South Alabama."

Harrison signed with South after lettering at Fairhope, Ala., where she also received recruiting interest from Sun Belt Conference foes Southern Miss and Troy. A five-year varsity letterwinner for the Pirates, Harrison has excelled both at the plate and in the circle. 

Over her last three seasons, Harrison holds a 0.96 earned run average and has struck out 345 batters in 175 innings of work, while compiling a 29-5 record during that three-year stretch. She has recorded 26 complete games in 36 starts, while also compiling 18 shutouts, five no hitters and a pair of perfect games, and held opponents to a .132 batting average entering her senior season.

At the plate, Harrison has batted .427 in 95 games, while recording 100 hits – 18 doubles, five triples and 24 home runs – 64 runs scored and 104 RBI.

As a junior, she batted .368 with 46 hits, including 23 for extra bases. Of those, nine were doubles, three were triples and 11 left the yard. She also drove in 53 and scored 35 times. 

In the circle, Harrison went 14-2 with a 0.54 ERA, and struck out 183 while allowing just one extra-base hit and holding opponents to an .097 batting average. She went the distance 12 times and recorded nine shutouts, three no hitters. Harrison tossed a perfect game against Satsuma HS and followed the performance with another no-hit gem in a win over Foley to claim AHSAA Spring Spotlight for Softball on April 7. She earned Class 7A second-team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers' Association (ASWA).  She was also selected to the Al.com Coastal High School Terrific 20 Team.

Harrison competed for the South team in July at the 26th Annual North-South All-Star Game held in Montgomery, Ala. 

As a sophomore in 2021, Harrison was 13-3 in the circle with a 1.62 ERA and tossed eight shutouts, two no hitters and another perfect game against Murphy HS. In her 102 plate appearances, she batted .494, drove in 35, scored 20 runs and had 20 more extra-base hits, including 10 home runs. 

For her play, Harrison earned Class 7A second-team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers' Association (ASWA) and was an Al.com Coastal High School Terrific 20 Team selection. She was also named to the AHSAA state tournament all-tourney team after helping guide Fairhope to a runner-up finish.

As a freshman, Fairhope was selected by Max Preps as the Best High School Softball Team in Alabama.

Harrison played six years of travel ball for the Alabama Thunderbolts where she was named the MVP of the 2021 Colorado Sparkler Futures Game. She also led the Bolts to a PGF National Championship in the Premier Division.

Emily Mizelle
5-8 | Infielder
Mobile, Ala. 
Baker High School | Alabama Thunderbolts

- Clark on Mizelle:
"Emily has tremendous power and drives the ball with authority. She has already put up some incredible prep numbers and will only continue to grow and develop. I foresee her being a clutch RPI producer and will anchor a spot in the middle of our order. Defensively, she has the tools and athleticism to play multiple positions at a high level. She is a great fit for our program and I am excited to see her growth over her four years at South."

Mizelle – a three-time Al.com Coastal High School Terrific 20 Team selection – signs with the Jaguars after lettering at Baker High School in Mobile, Ala. As a junior, Mizelle hit .483 with a 1.621 OPS, and recorded 69 hits, 13 doubles, five triples and a school record 21 home runs. She also drove in 68 runs and 26 stolen bases in 29 attempts, while being named Lagniappe Player of the Year.

Like Harrison, Mizelle competed for the South team in July at the 26th Annual North-South All-Star Game and earned Class 7A first-team all-state honors from the ASWA.

During the 2021 season, Mizelle earned Class 7A second-team all-state honors from the ASWA, she batted .421 with 13 home runs, 43 runs, 14 doubles, 14 steals and a 1.349 OPS. As a freshman at Baker, Mizelle contributed 34 RBI, eight home runs and eight steals while batting .493 with 1.499 OPS.

Molly Pitts
5-7 | Catcher
Mobile, Ala. 
Mobile Christian School | Louisiana Voodoo

- Clark on Pitts:
"Molly is a tough, gritty player who loves being on the softball field. She will add depth and toughness to our catching core. She receives the ball well, keeps the ball in front, and understands and manages the game. Offensively, she works gap-to-gap and can drive the ball. Her love for the game, work ethic, and overall competitive mindset make her a great addition to our program and I am excited to see her grow and develop once she gets in our system."

One of four signees from the Gulf Coast region and the second from Mobile, Pitts is a four-time all-county selection and was named to the Lagniappe all-area team last season. 

The Mobile Christian standout posted a .378 batting average as a junior, recording 48 hits, two of which were home runs, and drove in 42. Behind the plate, Pitts did not commit an error in 237 innings of work, while also throwing out five baserunners.

She helped the Lady Leopards advance to the 2022 3A Championship Game of the Final 8 of the Alabama High School Athletic Association state playoffs where they finished as runner up and posted a 46-6 record on the year. She was also named the Beef O' Brady's Player of the Week during the season.

During the 2021 season, Pitts had 28 hits and 30 RBI, while she caught 186 innings and threw out eight base runners attempting to steal.

Pitts also played four years of travel ball with Louisiana Voodoo. She is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Amity White
5-3 | Outfielder
Brundidge, Ala. 
Pike County High School | Alabama Fury

- Clark on White:
"Amity is a true athlete who has all of the tools to be an impact player and is just starting to scratch the surface of what she is capable of as a ballplayer. She is a five-tool player who will continue to develop into a dominant hitter and outfielder. Her combination of speed and power from the left side make her a 'no-brainer' addition to our program and I am excited to see her growth. In addition to her physical ability, she has a tremendous work ethic, character, and is a great teammate."

White, who has nearly 100 stolen bases over the past two seasons at Pike County High School will bring speed to the Jaguar lineup. 

As a junior, White batted .450 with 19 doubles, nine triples, three home runs with 43 stolen bases. She earned AISA first-team all-state honors from the ASWA.

As a sophomore during the 2021 season, White batted .517 with 21 doubles, seven triples, four home runs and 45 stolen bases.

This past summer, White also batted .617 for the Alabama Fury where she had 10 home runs, 15 doubles, five triples and 26 stolen bases.

Cadence Williams
6-0 | Pitcher
Rising Sun, Md. 
Rising Sun High School | Intensity

- Clark on Williams:
"Cadence is a swing-and-miss right-handed pitcher who has already had a tremendous amount of success and is going to continue to grow once she gets in our system on a daily basis. A great physical presence on the mound, Cadence attacks hitters with her spin and velocity. She has played a very competitive club schedule and will arrive on campus ready to compete. She is a true leader and great teammate who is going to be a huge addition to our pitching staff."

Williams – a 6-foot right-hander from Rising Sun High School in Rising Sun, Md. – was ranked No. 51 with Extra Innings Elite 100 in 2022, a year after being ranked as the 13th-best player in the country by the organization.

As a junior, Williams finished with a 7-3 record with three shutouts and struck out 112 batters in 64.1 innings in the circle as she held opponents to a .187 batting average. She also batted .328 with nine doubles and scored nine runs.

During her sophomore season, Williams went 5-0 with 0.62 ERA, and struck out 78 and only issued eight free passes in 34 innings of work, while allowing just three earned runs. She tossed four shutouts and threw a perfect game against Fallston in 2021. Offensively, Williams batted .467 with six doubles and four home runs, while she scored 16 runs and posted an .867 slugging percentage.

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