West Orange softball standout Shannon Weems will take talents to Samford
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. (BVM) – As one of south Florida’s most promising prospects, West Orange High School junior Shannon Weems is set to take her talents to Samford University’s softball diamond come 2023.
The infielder began her prep career at Olympia High School primarily at second and third base, as well as in the pitcher’s circle. Weems’ dominance was evident as she earned first-team all area accolades her freshman and sophomore seasons. She also led the district in slugging percentage, on-base percentage and batting average as a sophomore. With her talents only growing and a coaching change at Olympia, Weems decided to make the move to West Orange and has never been happier.
“Olympia was a great school and it has a lot of great programs,” Weems said. “But once we lost our coaches, my decision to transfer so I could play my junior season was easy. I already knew several students at West Orange through sports and church and I have made a lot more friends since my move. I love playing at West. Coach has been coaching for nine seasons and takes practices very seriously, which is something I appreciate. The goal is to get better before college and he keeps me on track to get there.”
In the season leading up to her verbal commitment to Samford, Weems grabbed the attention of college scouts at the plate. She finished her sophomore season with 16 runs, 23 RBIs, 16 doubles and owned a .484 batting average. A big-time power hitter, Weems continues to prioritize her batting mechanics and strives to add even more power to her swing.
“I take hitting lessons once a week with Mike Moore,” Weems said. “I started going to him towards the end of my time at Olympia and he has honestly taken me to the next level. He isn’t just a hitting coach – he’s also this huge confidence booster. He helps me feel so confident when I go into the box. Hitting has been a really big priority for me going into this season with West Orange and I feel really good about where I am at the moment.”
Weems has been in the college spotlight for a few years, traveling to college campuses since her freshman year. Ole Miss, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Florida were all involved in her recruiting process, but it was Samford that caught Weems’ eye early on.
“Samford has a new coaching staff this season who had success at Birmingham South University,” Weems said. “So that coupled with my visit really helped seal the deal for me with my decision to commit to Samford. When I got to campus, I immediately felt like I was part of a family. THe hitting and fielding drills were great and everyone made me feel really comfortable. I am also a Christian, so I really enjoyed how they prayed at the end of the camp. I just felt like if I committed, I would be going to a second home. So I did.”
With her junior season at West Orange in full swing and travel ball with the Lady Dukes Lamar approaching this summer, Weems will see ample time to improve her game even further before she officially becomes a Bulldog. And on or off the diamond, there is no doubt she will continue to pursue greatness.
“After this season is over, I’ll play pretty much every week this summer for travel ball and almost every weekend in the fall,” Weems said. “So that plus working on my hitting weekly, I feel like I will be in a good spot once I get to college. And once I get to Samford, I either want to go into dental school or pediatric surgery. Regardless, I know I will be busy, but I also know I will be successful.”
