Mississippi Coast softball team lands in national rankings after sizzling start to season
Lucedale, Mississippi is on the national radar.
The George County softball team landed on MaxPreps’ newest national top 25 poll, debuting at No. 18 among the top teams in the country.
The Lady Rebels (13-1) are now the top-ranked team in the state, having defeated and surpassed Northwest Rankin, and the only team from Mississippi in the top 25.
George County opened the season with 13 straight wins before taking its first loss of the year against East Central on Tuesday.
“George County joins this week’s rankings after a 13-0 start, including an 8-2 win over previous No. 8 Northwest Rankin on Friday,” MaxPreps reporter Steve Montoya wrote. “Sophomore pitcher Peyton Collins went the distance, striking out 10. The young ace is no stranger to varsity play as she has been on the high school team since seventh grade. Fellow Class of 2027 slugger Kyleigh Howell hit a home run during the Rebels’ victory.”
The Lady Rebels are one of the youngest teams in the rankings with only one senior on their 33-player roster.
Three of George County’s top five hitters are sophomores, led by single-season school home run record holder Howell. Her three home runs this season are tied for the most on the MS Coast.
Collins’ 0.32 ERA is the lowest in the state among pitchers with at least 100 batters faced. Junior Addison Davis is right behind her with a 0.75 ERA.
“We are feeling very confident and very, very hyped,” Davis told the Sun Herald following George County’s win over St. Martin on Feb. 28. “I think we’re playing very well as a team right now.”
George County is two seasons removed from a state championship and just one from a heartbreaking South State title loss to Hancock.
Its revenge tour has featured eight shutouts and at one point 42 consecutive scoreless innings pitched across seven games.
The Lady Rebels begin district play on March 18 with the first of two anticipated match ups with Teegan DeWitt and Hancock.
“We won state my freshman year and to come back and get so close, go to a game three and not make it, it was so disappointing,” Davis said. “I think that’s what’s feeding our fire this year. That really set the tone for this year.”
