Royce signs to pitch for Florence-Darlington Tech

Clarendon Hall alumna Gracyn Royce signed Tuesday to play softball with Florence-Darlington Technical College, surrounded by her family and former and future coaches. The Pinewood native, who graduated May 22 from the school, said she attended Clarendon Hall from K5 to third grade and then came back in sixth grade. She attended Manchester in the interim. “That was right there in Pinewood where I lived,” she said. “I’m glad I came back.” Clarendon Hall Athletic Director Ritchie Way said Royce had 83 wins, 370 strikeouts and 26 walks during her time pitching for the Lady Saints from 2011-15. She was named a member of the South Carolina Independent School Association 1A and AA North-South All-Star Team from 2012-15, was a member of the All-State team for 2012 and 2014-15 and was a member of the All-Region Team from 2012-15. Royce said she has been playing since “T-ball.” “I guess I started when I was about 4,” said Royce, 18. “I just like the game.” She said winning the SCISA 1A State Championship title with the Lady Saints during her final year at Clarendon Hall was exciting. “It made senior year even more special,” she said. Royce said she considered two schools for softball, both Florence-Darlington Technical College and Palm Beach State College in Florida. It was after a visit to the latter that she decided on the former. “I was asked to come to a practice with them, and I just really liked the atmosphere there,” she said. Florence-Darlington Technical College assistant softball coach Amanda Warley said Royce will “complement our 2015-16 pitching staff quite well.” “She will be a solid addition to our team,” Warley said. “We’re very excited to have her.” Royce said she plans to study nursing at the college. “I’d like to go into neonatal nursing as a career,” she said. Royce is the daughter of William and Christy Royce of Pinewood.