Through many twists and turns, Carson Bradsher has never lost sight of her goal to play college softball. There are no backward steps in life, something that Bradsher has learned throughout a process that has been challenging. Last month, in a ceremony inside Orange High Library, Bradsher formally signed with South Carolina Upstate in Sparanburg, South Carolina. Joining Carson for the ceremony was her father, Wayne, who retired just last week. Also there was her mother, Shannon, a member of Orange’s first fast-pitch softball team in the 1990s. Carson made All-Big 8 Conference in her sophomore season, a year that was limited to only eight conference games. During that year, she hit .700 and led the Lady Panthers in seven offensive categories. Orange won the Big 8 Conference championship with an undefeated mark. Bradsher’s freshman year was limited to only four games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Carson’s summer travel coach, Rick Webster, was also on hand for the ceremony. She will join a USC-Upstate team that has been a member of the Big South Conference since 2018. Last year, the Spartans went 48-10 in 2022 and won the Big South Regular Season Championship.