Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced the addition of 5-4 infielder Skylar Barton of Glen Burnie, Md., to the Patriot program for the 2023 season.

Barton is a product of North County High School, where she played for coaches Kelly Guarnieri and Joe Allender.  As a senior, she batted .333 en route to earning second-team All-County honors.  She also served as team captain.

She was a key member of the Knights' 2021 squad that advanced to the Class 4A state title game.

She graduated summa cum laude and earned various academic awards, including being named a Minds in Motion Award winner four times.

"Skylar will be a great addition to our program as she will bring depth to the infield and is a great student on top of that," Vallee said.  "We love players that are the whole package."

The Patriots lose three seniors from this past season's 33-22 squad that reached the Conference Carolinas Tournament title game and earned a bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.  Barton will join eight other newcomers coming to FMU for the 2023 campaign.