PINETOWN — Northside’s softball season is right around the corner, but senior Rebekah Williams knows where she’ll be playing come next year. The Lady Panthers’ ace pitcher signed Friday to continue her playing career at Pitt Community College.

Williams has been integral to Northside’s success over the past few seasons. She was the No. 2 behind Rachel Lang last season and helped the Lady Panthers to a second-round playoff appearance. She also pitched for the East Beaufort 15U softball team that made it all the way to the championship game at the Babe Ruth World Series over the summer.

“That was one of my favorite (memories),” Williams said. “A lot of those girls play here. Knowing that we could do that together, I know that we can do this.”

Northside coach Gil Robbins added: “This is everything. This is what you live for, especially when it’s kids you’ve had for a few years and you watch them grow and mature. That’s what being a coach is all about.”

The recruiting process began with emails back and forth. It blossomed from there. The coaching staff liked what they saw when they first saw Williams.

She’s one of seven players set to join the Bulldogs next season. East Carteret’s Emily McGee also committed, which Williams believes will help ease her eventual transition into college.

“We’ll be there together. I’ve played with her in the summer,” Williams said.

Williams was glad to sign her talents to Pitt CC before the start of the season. It takes it off her mind and allows her to focus just a little bit more on the high hopes she has for her senior season.

“I think we’ll do good. I think we have a strong team this year,” she said. “Everybody gets along and we’re going to mesh really well.”

Williams said she wants to become more of a leader this season. There will be a good deal of pressure on her. She pitched in six games last year — five of which were starts — and posted a 4-1 record with a 0.97 earned-run average.

Offensively, Williams posted a .326 batting average in 2017. She had 15 hits for 10 RBI and scored five runs. She’ll be expected to take on more responsibility, offensively and defensively, but Robbins believes Williams works best under pressure.

“We’re expecting her to the plate. Right now, that’s exactly what she’s doing,” Robbins said. “Bekah, at this point, steps into our No. 1 spot. We expect her to control the game. … She’s one of those people that handles pressure extremely well. She’s always had a little bit of a poker face.”

Off the field, Williams plans to spend her time at Pitt CC studying early-childhood education.

“I’ve had favorite teachers. I know how they teach and how they make me feel when I have a good teacher that I really like,” Williams said. “I want to be that for other people.”

Northside is set to begin the season with a home-and-home set against 4-A South Central. That series kicks off Feb. 28 in Pinetown.