SPRINGFIELD — The University of South Carolina Beaufort Sand Sharks started circling Addie Reynolds as soon as they saw her play.

During a Dec. 9 signing ceremony in the Effingham County High School gym lobby, USCB head coach Bailey Wigness told the audience that she was enamored with the Effingham County catcher’s skillset.

 “I was very surprised when she said that because I didn’t even know she was going to speak,” Reynolds said. 

Reynolds dazzled Wigness during a USCB camp.

“I really performed well,” Reynolds said. “(Wigness) was so funny. She said, ‘Try to hit more line drives,’ but then she said she knew from the first moment she wanted to recruit me.

“It was kind of cool to experience that.”

At the time, Reynolds was interested in a few other suitors, including Georgia College.

“After I kept going back to USCB, I really started to like it because it is really close to home and some of my friends go there — and I love (Wigness’) coaching staff,” Reynolds said. 

The Sand Sharks’ roster already includes a pair of former Effingham County standouts — infielder Francie Gaskin and outfielder Jaci Gaskin. They are freshmen.

Reynolds was a breakout star as a Lady Rebels junior, emerging as the Region 2-AAAAAA player of the year. She duplicated her stellar campaign in 2020.

“That was my goal starting my freshmen year,” she said. “When (pitcher) Kastin Belagorska of South (Effingham) won it and (former Effingham County pitcher/infielder) Bailee (Wilson) won it, I decided that should be my goal and I just kept working my tail off to meet my goal. We made it to the Elite Eight my senior year and, as a team, we came together and it was a real confidence for me and my teammates.”