McDowell leading Belmont ahead of playoffs

She may only be in eighth grade, but Belmont's Kaylee McDowell is getting it done both in the circle and at the plate.

McDowell is sporting a 10-5 record and a 1.50 ERA along with a .380 batting average and a team-high 21 RBIs. Belmont finished the regular season in second place in Region 1-3A and will start the playoffs with a matchup against Coahoma County on Thursday.

"She's been really good for us," Belmont head coach Eric Thornton said. "We've got a couple other eighth graders that are starting for us that have all been a huge part of the success we've had. Obviously, she's put up some big numbers throughout the season. It's always nice when you know you've got a pitcher that's going to keep you in the game and give you a shot."

In just over 102 innings, McDowell has 167 strikeouts to 31 walks. At the dish, she's hit two home runs to go with a .620 slugging percentage. Between McDowell, Aubree Scott, Stevie Game and Brilei Dees, the Cardinals' lineup presents a lot of problems for opposing pitchers.

"(McDowell's) another one from the offensive side that provides power, consistent hitter," Thornton said. "Between her, Brilei Dees, Aubree Scott, Stevie Game and the production we've gotten from those other ones, it's been good to have consistency out of the top part of our lineup and then those others filling in the gaps as well."

Scott has a team-high five home runs on the year, and Game is hitting .500 heading into the playoffs.

"(Game) is just a tough out with a lot of power," Thornton said. "The other thing she has done is, the second half of the year, she's cut down on the strikeouts a lot, so that's been another big thing for her. But she's definitely been one of those that, I wouldn't say is a surprise to us, but we've gotten more out of her than we even expected going into this year, so we've been really proud of her."

With McDowell's efforts both ways and the Cardinals' strong lineup, Belmont should be a tough out.

"I like the way we're playing right now," Thornton said. "We've kind of come along in the last couple weeks hitting the ball a little bit better. Our pitching has been pretty good all year, so I like where we're at."

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 7:38 AM.