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BLADENBORO- With friends, teammates, coaches and administrators in attendance, West Bladen’s Carley Dawson and Conner Brisson signed Letters of Intent Monday to continue their softball careers next season at UNC-Pembroke.
Dawson, a first baseman, has batted .444 with 10 home runs, 10 doubles, 55 runs batted in, 61 runs scored and a .697 slugging percentage over the past two seasons.
Brisson was the Knights’ shortstop two years ago and batted .516 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 23 runs scored, 23 runs batted in and a .629 slugging percentage. Brisson tore an anterior cruciate ligament in the final West Bladen basketball game of the 2018 season and thus missed the 2018 softball season.
“The knee is really good now,” said Brisson. “I am done with therapy and have one more check-up next week.” The injury cost Conner her junior softball season and her senior tennis season, but hasn’t affected her outlook. “It’s alright now,” she chuckled.
“Conner is just an example of everyday not giving up,” said Knight Coach Pam Stephens. “She has fought back to play in the spring and to play at the next level.”
About Dawson, Stephens said, “Carley is a hard worker, dedicated and a good all-around player. She is very coachable, and will do well at Pembroke.”
Dawson shared that her first contact with UNC-Pembroke Coach Brittany Bennett came at a travel team tournament. “I wasn’t having a good day, and she said she liked the fact that I kept trying and didn’t give up.”
Carley added, “ I liked the team atmosphere at Pembroke. It was more of a family – there were no little groups. I love the coach and it is close to home. It feels like home.”
Brisson attended a camp at UNC-Pembroke after her sophmore season. “I made a couple of good plays, and they noticed and started talking to me,” she said.
Conner is the daughter of Audrea Brisson and the late Jeffrey Brisson. “I am happy,” said her mom. “She will be right here at home so I can see her play.”
Carley is the daughter of Jeremy and Wendy Dawson. “She went to a camp there and fell in love with the school atmosphere,” said Jeremy Dawson.
“It’s close to home,” said Wendy Dawson. “We can be there in 20 minutes.”
Carley plans to major in education with hopes to teach at the high school level and coach. Conner wants to major in exercise and sports science with career plans in the physical therapy and training fields.
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