High school softball playoffs are here. Here’s every series and who to watch in South MS.
Another playoff softball season descends on South Mississippi this week as schools across the region prepare to make deep runs at state history.
The region produced one team, East Central, that made it to the final championship series last year and two others that appeared in the Final Four.
The Hornets dropped that series but they are among the teams on the Coast that are primed to make some noise against Mississippi’s best softball teams.
Who to watch
Region 7-6A No. 1 Ocean Springs
Pitcher Bella Crawley dominated her district and led the Greyhounds to a 5-1 record in Region 7. Backed by a lineup powered by Gracie McDonald’s bat and Peyton Hoffmeyer’s powerful swing, Ocean Springs is one of the more talented teams in the bracket.
It’s a younger team, but many still have the memory of last year’s early exit fresh on their minds.
Region 8-6A No. 1 Gulfport
The Admirals dispatched of their region with a perfect 6-0 record to earn a first round bye. Few teams match the pitching depth of Gulfport, who has two impressive starters in Haley Hughes and Kinsley Cospelich and a third pitcher in Anna Kate Rounsaville, who is more than capable of putting together shut down innings.
Gulfport is especially dangerous at the plate where a deep lineup is led by well-rounded star Brooklynn Montana, with her .407 batting average and six home runs.
Region 8-5A No. 1 East Central
Bree Phillips, Kinsey Cochran and Baleigh Tullos led East Central to a spotless 6-0 mark in its district with a combined 58 RBIs on the year. Lauren Brooks is the owner of a 2.00 ERA as the Hornets’ go-to pitcher while arms Breyona Taylor and Sunnie Lillis have been excellent options on the mound.
East Central and Gulfport will match up against each other on Thursday in a high-level warm up for the playoffs.
Region 7-5A No. 1 Pearl River Central
The Blue Devils are coming into the bracket red hot, having won nine of their last 10 games. Bayli Cucinello has been strong on the mound with her 1.55 ERA and 57 strikeouts.
Izzy Martin wields one of the most powerful bats on the Coast and has flexed it with eight home runs and 28 RBIs this year.
Sleeper teams
Region 7-6A No. 2 St. Martin
Lauren Parker and Anna Sherman spearhead an ultra-experienced St. Martin team that knows what it takes to win. Sherman and Parker are the team’s top hitters as well as the two pitchers the Yellow Jackets turn to each game.
Five players are batting over .300 in the lineup, including Sage Gmerek and her team-leading 18 RBIs.
Region 7-5A No. 2 Picayune
The Maroon Tide will always have a chance to win as long as Kylie Burnette is in the circle. The senior has had a stellar campaign, striking out over 100 batters and throwing a perfect game.
Kaigyn Kulas and Addison Watts are the key cogs in the lineup, though inconsistencies have plagued Picayune at times in the scoring column.
Region 8-5A No. 2 Vancleave
Bryn Daughtery is a perfect 9-0 in the circle and is carrying a 1.96 ERA into the playoffs. She’s also hitting .403 with 11 doubles and 24 RBIs. Brooklyn Rhodes has been a strong compliment to Daughtery as the team’s No. 2 pitcher.
Rhodes and Aubree Hunter are both batting over .300 and have combined for 53 hits. The fearsome trio could give the Bulldogs an edge in the first round.
Full matchups
6A
- St. Martin vs Oak Grove
- D’Iberville vs Brandon
- Harrison Central vs Warren Central
- Hancock vs Pearl
First round byes: Ocean Springs, Gulfport
5A
- Picayune vs Brookhaven
- West Harrison vs Florence
- George County vs Wayne County
- Vancleave vs Hattiesburg
First round byes: East Central, Pearl River Central
4A
- Stone vs McComb
First round bye: Bay High
3A
- St. Patrick vs Seminary
1A
- Resurrection vs McEvans
