Clift Welcomes Five Freshman to 2025 Roster

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina softball head coach Jim Clift announced the addition of five freshmen set to join the Catamount program for the 2025 season. Outfielder Courtney Marks (Tampa, Fla.), outfielder Tator Martin (Denver, N.C.), pitcher/utility AG Batson (Six Mile, S.C.), utility Ava Giglio (Irvine, Calif.) and pitcher Amanda Fulton (Woodstock, Ga.) each join the Catamounts beginning the fall of 2024.

"Coach (Madison) Armstrong, Coach (Jeralynn) Wells and I could not be more excited with this freshman class," said Clift. "Each of these young women bring a special quality and skill to our already talented team. We are adding speed and a couple more bats to this lineup, as well as depth to our defense. More importantly, these young women will add to our Catamount Family atmosphere."

Ava Giglio – 5-4 – Third Base/Catcher – Irvine, Calif. / Northwood HS
Giglio joins Western Carolina after a four years at Northwood High in Irvine, Calif., where she saw action in 73 games in her prep career. She finished with a career .339 batting average tallying 74 hits including 13 doubles, and also drove in 57 runs. Giglio's best season was as a sophomore when she finished with a .384 average with 28 hits along with 17 RBIs and six doubles. She garnered first-team All-Pacific Coast League honors her sophomore year and second-team honors during her first year of high school. Giglio received second-team all-conference honors as a junior, while earning All-Orange County honorable mention plaudits and defensive player of the year recognition.

Giglio received the Leadership Award for her school during her senior season. As a team, Northwood High qualified for the state championship and marked first time in program history they made semifinal and states. She was a captain her junior and senior year on the softball diamond and volleyball captain during her first two prep years.

Clift on Giglio:
"Ava is a true athlete and will bring added speed to our line-up. Ava can play anywhere, and she understands playing with and against good competition. I believe Ava will grow into one of our Team leaders as she progresses through her career."

Tatum Martin – 5-8 – Outfielder – Denver, N.C. / East Lincoln HS
Martin arrives in Cullowhee after posting a strong .442 batting average over her prep career at East Lincoln. She totaled 97 base hits over her final three seasons that helped propel her to the .400+ batting average. She finished with 24 doubles and a pair of triples to accompany an on-base percentage over .500 and an OPS of 1.070. In her 79 prep games, she was a successful 25-for-28 on the bases including a 10-for-10 mark in her senior campaign.

During her time at East Lincoln, Martin garnered three straight all-conference honors along with a pair of all-district team representations. She also was named to numerous publications all-conference teams during her junior season including both the Gaston Gazette and Charlotte Observer. During her freshman season, East Lincoln made its first regional championship and won the 2023 NCHSAA 3A State Championship for the first time in school history.

Clift on Martin:
"Tatum will bring a big bat to the line-up. She can hit for both average and power. I believe she will immediately compete for an outfield job."

Amanda Fulton – 5-6 – Pitcher – Woodstock, Ga. / River Ridge HS
Fulton heads to WCU after a successful four-year prep career at River Ridge High. During her four years, she finished with 56-23 record totaling 677 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA over 539+ innings of work. She earned first-team all-region honors during her sophomore and junior years, while also garnering all-county honors in those same two seasons. Following an 18-6 record in her sophomore campaign, Fulton was named both Region 7-6A and Cherokee County Pitcher of the Year. Fulton closed out her prep career with the same honors as sophomore and junior years while also receiving first-team all-state honors.

During her time at River Ridge, Fulton was apart of four teams that totaled 20 or more wins per season including a region title during as a senior. River Ridge advanced to the final four during her junior campaign and finished in third place during her senior year, also garnered a state runner up during sophomore season. She broke numerous records at River Ridge setting the single-game program record for strikeouts (21), single-season program strikeout record (264) during her senior season and the program's career strikeout mark (677). Fulton spent part of her high school career as teammate to current catamount and reigning Co-SoCon Freshman of the Year Lily Bell.

Clift on Fulton:
"Amanda is already an outstanding pitcher and will bring much needed depth to the circle. Amanda will keep the Team loose and in every game. She will be a great compliment to our pitching staff."

Courtney Marks – 5-4 – Outfielder – Wesley Chapel, Fla. / Wesley Chapel HS
Marks concluded a successful high school career at Wesley Chapel High, finishing with a .453 career average. She totaled 135 hits including a career-high 43 during her junior season and scored 120 runs driving in 35 career RBIs. Marks finished her prep career with a .518 career on-base percentage and a 1.008 on-base percentage plus slugging percentage while also swiping 35 career bases. She finished her time at Wesley Chapel with a .978 fielding percentage with seven outfield assists and helped turn three double plays.

Marks garnered second-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and first-team honors both her junior and senior year with her junior campaign ending with the league's Player of the Year honor. Marks broke numerous records during her prep career including runs scored in a season as a junior with 33, hits in a season also as a junior with 43 and singles in that same season with 37. She closed out her career on a 68-game reached base streak. She was a part of two district titles and two more district runner ups at Wesley Chapel High School.

Clift on Marks:
"Courtney adds burning speed to our lineup, along with a great bat. She will give defenses fits. Along with that, Courtney is an outstanding defender and will help make our outfield one of the best in the conference. I think all of us are looking forward to the Courtney Marks and Lily Bell show!"

AG Batson – 5-10 – Pitcher – Six Mile, S.C. / DW Daniel HS
Batson joins WCU after a four-year prep career as a two-way player at DW Daniel High. During her junior season, Batson posted a strong .391 average with 10 homers and 38 RBIs while also doing damage in the circle with 155 strikeouts in 127.1 innings of work. She closed out her senior season with a .314 batting average with three homers and 118 strikeouts over 122.2 innings. She finished her prep career with over 500 career strikeouts as she earned Top 20 Player to Watch, All-Region, Golden Arm Award along with multiple defensive awards.

Batson earned all-state honors and was the Seneca Journal Player of the Year as a senior. In her junior campaign, DW Daniel High School won district title on home field as Batson appeared in game and helped clinch the district title.

Clift on Batson:
"AG Batson brings a presence to the field. She is a strong athlete and will add to our team's power numbers. AG will also help round out what looks to be one of the most talented pitching staffs we have had in a long time. We are excited to see what this ballplayer will do."

Keep track of everything related to Catamount softball and WCU Athletics through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountSB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsb), or go to www.CatamountSports.com.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Lily Bell: INF; 5' 4"; Freshman; L/R

Players Mentioned

#3 Lily Bell
: 5' 4"; Freshman; L/R
: INF

Western Carolina University

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Clift Welcomes Five Freshman to 2025 Roster

Players Mentioned

#3 Lily Bell

Players Mentioned

#3 Lily Bell