Charlotte, N.C. - Johnson & Wales Charlotte head softball coach Courtney Orr is happy to announce the signing of Natalie Charles as the tenth member of the Wildcats' 2026 recruiting class.

Charles is a native of Concord, N.C. and played at West Cabarrus High School. She was a four year member of the Wolverines' softball team, and helped lead them to a school record 9 wins in 2026, including the school's first ever postseason victory. She hit .263 in 2025, and scored 12 runs in 2026. She plays club softball for Carolina Force.

She is the daughter of Molly McKay and Chris Charles and plans to major in Health Science at Johnson & Wales. Charles had three reasons for choosing to become a Wildcat. "I love the team, the family, and its close to home," she replied when asked about her decision to attend JWU. Charles has been a Beta Club member since 2023, and served as an officer in the club for the last two years. She is also a member of the National Technical Honor Society, and will be a North Carolina Career Academy Graduate in a couple of weeks. She was chosen as the student speaker for the 2025 North Carolina Career & Technical Education State Conference.

Coach Orr is excited for both the intangibles and the skillset Charles brings to the team. "Natalie is a special addition to our program! The character and attitude she brings are truly invaluable, and we know her work ethic will have a major impact both on and off the softball field. She adds great depth to our team, and we're excited to see all the great things she'll accomplish in our program."