Former GPS ace Shelby Walters transfers to Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. (WDEF) — Cohutta, Georgia native and former GPS ace Shelby Walters is transferring to Georgia.
The 2014 state champ finished her four years at Duke with a 2.28 ERA over 300 innings, with 220 strike outs. She earned All-ACC and All-Tournament honors while with the Blue Devils.
From the Georgia Bulldogs press release:
Walters transfers to Georgia after earning her undergraduate degrees from Duke in Evolutionary Anthropology & Biology. She will pursue a master’s degree in Kinesiology at UGA. Walters was a four-year student-athlete at Duke where she made 73 appearances in the circle for the Blue Devils, accumulating a 31-18 record with a 2.28 ERA in 300 innings of work. She fanned 220 batters while wearing a Duke uniform.
Walters’ 2022 season was cut short due to a foot injury, pitching less than 20 innings in six appearances. She had a breakout 2021 campaign when she earned Second Team NFCA All-Region, All-ACC First Team, and ACC All-Tournament Team honors. In 2021 she made 31 appearances with a team-best 24 starts in the circle, leading the Blue Devils pitching staff with a 1.28 ERA and 19 wins (19-3). She worked nine complete games through 147.2 innings with 87 strikeouts on the season. She tossed Duke’s first-ever no-hitter in a five-inning game against NC Central on March 4.
Before the 2020 season cut short, Walters went 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA in 36 innings, tallying 30 strikeouts. During her rookie campaign, she appeared in 27 games, starting 14, concluding with a 3.92 ERA with five wins and fanned 87 batters.
Walters has been a top performer in the classroom as well, landing a spot on the All-ACC Academic Team in 2021 and has been on the ACC Honor Roll three times.
Prior to arriving in Durham, Walters led Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga to the TSSAA DII-AA State Championship in 2014 and runner-up finishes in 2015, 2017 and 2018. She concluded her prep career with 477 strikeouts and a 1.89 ERA with three perfect games to her name. At the plate, she finished her career slugging .549 with 21 homers. Her senior year was capped earning Best of Preps First Team, All-State, and Division II Region MVP honors. She played club for the Frost Falcons (2010-15) and Tennessee Fury Platinum (2015-18). The Falcons picked up three top-five finishes as ASA Nationals, including a third place showing in 2011.
She is the daughter of Shannon and John Walters and she has one brother, John.
Baldwin on Walters: “Shelby is an accomplished pitcher with a ton of experience. She comes from a successful program and knows what it takes to be successful at a high level. We are thrilled to have her join our pitching staff.”
