Softball season is back on the MS Coast. Here are the top players to watch on the diamond
The Mississippi Coast is once again loaded with elite-level softball talent.
The girls have taken to the diamond for the 2025 season and it promises to be a good one with several of the state’s top players back and many rising stars from the underclassmen ranks looking to take center stage.
Here are some of the best softball players in South Mississippi this season:
- Emma Franklin, D’Iberville: Franklin returns as one of the top pitchers and two-way players on the Coast after striking out 121 batters last season. The junior has five hits in two games this year and a 5-inning shutout from the circle.
- Abbie Huff, East Central: The senior is a two-way star to watch after posting a 1.92 ERA in 2024. She’s got eight hits through five games this season.
- Kailee Lawson, East Central: Lawson was a MAC All Star as a junior and is currently toting a career .345 batting average and is one of the most prolific hitters on the Coast with 136 hits.
- Kyleigh Howell, George County: The reigning Sun Herald Underclassmen of the Year set the program record for single season home runs with eight as a freshman. Howell has already belted two homers in her first three sophomore season games.
- Addison Davis, George County: Davis was a Rising Stars MAC All Star a year ago after dominating with a 1.31 ERA out of the circle. The junior has already cut down 13 of the 28 batters she’s faced this year.
- Peyton Collins, George County: Collins had over 50 appearances before her sophomore season began this year and with a career ERA of 2.03 in 269 innings. She’s tossed 9.2 innings this year with 14 strikeouts and zero runs allowed.
- Aryana Dixon, George County: Dixon piled up 52 hits as a sophomore and was named a Rising Stars MAC All Star. The junior is currently leading the Rebels in hits.
- Teegan DeWitt, Hancock: The reigning Sun Herald Player of the Year has one final high school campaign ahead of her after being the only 6A player with at least 45 hits and a sub-1.00 ERA as a junior. DeWitt has over 550 career strikeouts and has already added 17 across 11 innings this season.
- Gracie McDonald, Ocean Springs: No active player on the Coast has as many career hits as McDonald and her 154 and counting. She led South MS a year ago with 61 hits and has six through three games as a senior.
- K’Lee Gum, Ocean Springs: The Greyhounds were the only Coast team with multiple 50-plus hit players in ‘24. Gum recorded 56 hits last year and has scored at least 30 runs in each of the last two seasons.
Other stars to watch
- Abby Danis, East Central
- Hadleigh Tatum, George County
- Brylie Smith, Hancock
- Abigail Carver, Hancock
- Kerrigan Scott, Ocean Springs
- Elizabeth Colson, St. Patrick
- Tara Nasakaitis, St. Patrick
- Bailey Ross, Vancleave
- Jaylin Jones, West Harrison
- AJ Miller, West Harrison
Scott Watkins
Sun Herald