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2027 SB Signees - INSIDE

Softball Greg Hartlage, Director of Media Relations

Clift Welcomes Five to 2027 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 2027 season.

Pitcher Kadence Poston (Pamplico, S.C.), catcher Amy Hartle (Fairfax, Va.), infielder Kaylie Zirger (Duluth, Ga.), outfielder Hana Corder (Vanntown, Tenn.), pitcher Maddie Huffman (Kings Mountain, N.C.) are each set to join the Catamounts with their debuts slated for spring of the 2027 campaign. 

The five newcomers for Clift and Co. join a group of returning Catamounts looking to build off an impressive 2026 season that saw the Purple & Gold collect 34 wins, the most by a WCU softball program since 2016 with 33 wins. The Catamounts led the SoCon in runs (368), hits (504), home runs (73), runs batted in (337), and slugging percentage (.505). WCU also finished second in batting average (.313), stolen bases (78), and third in on-base percentage (.385), along with doubles (73) and walks (181).

Kadence Poston – 5-6 – Pitcher – Pamplico, S.C. / Hannah-Pamplico HS
Poston comes to Cullowhee following a four-year standout career at Hannah-Pamplico High School. She earned 49 career victories during her high school career with a career ERA of 1.57 over 91 career appearances. Poston finished her prep career with a bang with 12 wins and a 1.24 ERA her junior year before tallying 220 punchouts and a 1.49 ERA with 17 wins as a senior. She also carried an impressive .300 batting average during her time at Hannah-Pamplico HIgh School with 87 career hits, 59 RBIs and nine homers. Similar to her senior year in the circle, Poston also picked up a .359 batting average as a senior. In her junior year she became the first pitcher in school history to surpass 500 punchouts before amassing a school-record 220 in her senior season to help set a career school record with 799. 

She was a four-time all-region and state honoree as during her sophomore campaign, she also earned Region Pitcher of the Year, the first of two times she received the accolade in her career. As a team, Hannah-Pamplico High earned two region titles, five district championships, three lower state runner-ups and two lower state championships. In her freshman year, she was a part of the first state championship in school history for any sport. In 2025, she was a part of the USA Softball Prep National Champions. Poston's second cousin is country music sensation Josh Turner who's a multi-time Grammy, CMA, ACM and ACA award nominee while also earning the GMA Dove Award and multiple Inspirational Country Music Awards. 

Clift on Poston:
"Kadence comes to us from the state of South Carolina with an outstanding high school resume, including a state championship her senior year. As a pitcher, she brings a wide variety of tools that will keep hitters off balance, along with a strong presence and great energy in the circle. She will be a great addition to our pitching staff and make our entire staff better. We're excited for all that she brings to our Team!"

Hana Corder – 5-6 – Outfielder – Vanntown, Tenn. / Lincoln County HS
Corder arrives in Cullowhee after completing a successful prep career at Lincoln County High School. She finished her prep career with an impressive .406 batting average, which included a career-best .484 average during her senior season. In her senior year, she also totaled a .518 on-base percentage, 77 hits, 20 doubles, 10 homers, 58 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. In her career she totaled 175 runs scored and 211 hits. She earned first-team all-district honors in each of her four seasons while also earning a pair of defensive player of the year's as she had a pair of 1.000 fielding percentages along with a senior year offensive player of the year honor. 

As a team, Corder was a part of three district championships, a 2026 sectional title as Lincoln County High School finished fifth in the state. In her senior year, she totaled a single-season school record for runs with 55 and also set the school record with her 175 runs scored in her career. Off the diamond, she earned district goalie of the year honors and was a team MVP, while also being selected to play in the THSSAA/TACA East vs West All-Star Soccer game in 2025. Her cousin Mia Brown is currently a junior at University of Alabama-Huntsville after playing two seasons with Memphis. 

Clift on Corder:
"Hana is a speedy outfielder who can really swing the bat. She brings great energy and is going to be a spark in our lineup. We're excited to see the impact she can make for Western Carolina Softball." 

Madeline Huffman – 5-4 – Pitcher – Kings Mountain, N.C. / Kings Mountain HS
Huffman as a two-way standout at Kings Mountain High School that saw her carry a .424 career batting average paired with a 0.96 earned run average throughout her prep career. She closed her career with a bang hitting .542 along with an 0.69 ERA and 263 strikeouts during her most recently completed senior season. In her final three prep seasons, she held a .400+ batting average along with a sub 0.70 era and 200+ strikeouts in the circle throughout those three years.

She was named the Big South 6A All-Conference and NCSCA All-District 6 Pitcher of the Year's in her senior season. In her junior year, she was named the BIg South 3A Player of the Year, NCSCA All-District and All-State. As a sophomore, she was named conference player of the year, Western NC 3A Player of the Year and NCSCA All-District 6 3A Player of the Year. She earned First-Team All-Conference and All-District as a freshman. 

Clift on Huffman:
"Maddie comes to us with a decorated high school career and has competed at a high level in travel ball playing against some of the best players in the country. She brings a lot of poise and command to the circle, and we're excited for all that she will bring to our pitching staff and our Team."

Kaylie Zirger –– 5-4 — Infielder – Duluth, Ga./Duluth High School
Zirger comes to Cullowhee after a high school career at Duluth High School where she posted a career .384 batting average to go along with 117 hits, 89 runs and 91 RBIs to go along with 31 doubles. In her senior season she earned first-team all-region honors to go along with second-team all-county and was selected to play in the Georgia All-State game. 

She also earned three honorable mention selections to the area's all-region while earning a pair of third-team all-region honors. During her senior campaign, Zirger set the record for doubles and RBIs in her prep career. Off the diamond, Zirger spent time on the basketball court with a pair of first-team all region honors. She also grabbed a defensive team all-region honor.  

Clift on Zirger:
"Kaylie is a smooth-fielding middle infielder who plays with confidence and brings great energy to the field. She is a wonderful gap-to-gap hitter and has competed at a high level in travel ball against some of the best teams and players in the country. We're excited to see the impact Kaylie will make as a Catamount!!" 

Amy Hartle –– 5-9 — Catcher/Infielder — Fairfax, Va./Fairfax High School
Hartle begins her collegiate career following a successful prep career at her hometown Fairfax High School where she was a three-time all-district catcher while also being a force at the dish. Hartle finished her career with a .438 average paired with a .630 on-base percentage during her senior season. She totaled 98 career hits along with 27 career big flies throughout her four years. During her junior season, Hartle set her school's record for homers with 11 on the season. During her senior season, she set the program milestone with 27 home runs. 

Earlier in the summer of 2026, Hartle spent time playing with the Great Britain National team as the squad competed at the 2026 WBSC Women's Softball World Cup in Lima. 

Clift on Hartle:
"Amy is a strong-armed catcher with a big bat who brings a tremendous amount of experience to our program, including international experience with the Great Britain National Team. We're excited for all that she brings to our Team and, most of all, we're excited that Amy is a Catamount!"
 
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