Although it took a year longer than expected, Marshall University women’s softball coach Shonda Stanton is glad to have Andi Williamson in the Thundering Herd fold.

Stanton officially announced Wednesday the addition of Williamson, a University of Tennessee transfer and Chapmanville Regional High School grad.

Williamson, a Harts native and also a former pitcher at the old Harts High School, had already told The Logan Banner back on June 19 that she was headed to Marshall.

Marshall had heavily recruited Williamson, particularly in her senior season at Chapmanville Regional, where she led the Lady Tigers to a 31-3 record and the 2009 Class AA state championship. Williamson, however, chose to go to Tennessee.

“With the addition of Andi, this will be our most complete and talented pitching staff,” Stanton told herdzone.com. “I am sure she is extremely hungry to see considerable innings on the mound and will have the drive and work ethic to battle for those innings.”

Williamson, however, only had limited playing time during her freshman season at Tennessee this spring as she pitched five innings and struck out five for the Lady Vols, which advanced all the way to the NCAA Women’s College World Series before falling in the national semifinals to Arizona. Tennessee was ranked No. 15 in the nation and went 49-15.

“She had a valuable experience with the Lady Vols this past year and I cannot be any more pleased that she has decided to wear the Green and White now,” Stanton told the website. “She will take great pride in playing for the Herd and will bring a strong will to win. She will do what it takes on and off the field to be successful and will bring solid depth to our pitching staff.”

Williamson said she’s happy to come to Huntington.

“I’m very excited to get to come home and play for Marshall and play for my home state,” Williamson told The Logan Banner last month in an exclusive interview. “They think that I can be a big help so hopefully I won’t disappoint them. I will definitely get to play a lot down there.”

Williamson had a stellar prep softball career at Chapmanville and Harts. During her freshman season at Harts, she led the Lady Lions to the Class A state championship game in 2006. Then after the closure of HHS she made her way to Logan County and the new Chapmanville Regional High School, where she helped lead the Lady Tigers to the Class AA state title in 2007.

Two years later, Williamson led CRHS to the state championship again.

During her senior season in 2009, Williamson was 23-1 within the circle and had a 0.09 ERA. She tallied 356 strikeouts and also hit .390 with 30 RBI and a handful of home runs.

During the postseason she pitched four no-hitters, two one-hitters and a two-hitter. She finished her career with more than 1,000 strikeouts including 33 Ks in a 13-inning, three-hour win over rival Logan.

Williamson padded an impressive trophy case during her high school career after being named a 2009 EA Sports First-Team Softball All-American, the 2009 Gatorade/RISE Magazine West Virginia State Player of the Year, was a four-time First-Team All-State selection and a three-time All-Cardinal Conference honoree. She was also the 2009 West Virginia Sports Writers State Player of the Year.

Her father, Andy Paul, played for the Marshall basketball team from 1987-90. A 1988 Southern Conference All-Freshman Team selection, Andy Paul finished his collegiate career with 299 assists – which still ranks 10th all-time in the Marshall record books.

Williamson joins a crop of other Marshall newcomers, including: Erika Bennett (junior, RHP), Ashley Byrd (freshman, catcher), Kiara Chappelle (freshman, in-field), Amanda Lara (junior, infield), Natalee Pulver (freshman, RHP) and Taylor Winton (freshman, catcher).