All-South Mississippi Team celebrates brightest stars from 2025 softball season

By Scott Watkins

June 7, 2025 5:00 AM

South Mississippi put two on the board with rings obtained by George County and East Central this season.

It was the Lady Rebels’ second championship in three years and for the Lady Hornets it was a long-awaited return to the top. The MS Coast also produced South State runners-up in Poplarville, Vancleave and Hancock.

Teegan DeWitt earns our Player of the Year honor once again, and East Central’s Gerald Edmonson makes it two in a row himself for Coach of the Year. Abbie Danis captured the Fan’s Choice vote and Annaleese Rabon earns Underclassmen of the Year.

Here’s the full Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Softball team.

Coach of the Year

Gerald Edmonson, East Central

East Central rose over the hump this season, winning its first state since 2009 when it swept Lafayette in two games in the 5A state title series. The Lady Hornets put a 30 in the win column for the first time in at least 15 years and were a perfect 10-0 in district.

Player of the Year

Teegan DeWitt, Hancock

DeWitt earns the honor of Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after dominantly displaying why she’s one of the state’s top talents, if not the best of them all. The outgoing senior and Pearl River C.C. signee led all classifications in the state in doubles with 23 and led the Coast in strikeouts from the circle by a wide margin with 224.

Fan’s Choice Player of the Year

Abbie Danis, East Central

The East Central standout captured the vote of the people after capturing the vote of the MHSAA. Danis was named the MVP of the state title series and her 53 hits throughout the season led all players on the Coast. The junior earned over 60,000 votes, beating out Vancleave’s Brooklyn Howard and her impressive 36,000 votes.

Underclassmen of the Year

Annaleese Rabon, Pascagoula

The freshman sensation took the Coast by storm, posting an eye-popping .603 batting average with a 1.558 OPS. Rabon’s incredible ninth grade season marks her as one of the most promising young talents in South Mississippi.

East Central’s Abigail Danis prepares to throw a pitch during the MHSAA 5A Softball Championship at USM Softball Complex in Hattiesburg on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald

Sun Herald Starting Nine

These were South Mississippi’s best softball players, regardless of position.

Teegan DeWitt, Hancock: The two-way superstar posted a 1.685 OPS with a Coast-high 35 extra base hits while dominating from the circle with a 1.02 ERA in her explosive senior campaign.
Annaleese Rabon, Pascagoula: The phenom not only picked up 38 hits, but she also tossed 83.2 innings of 3.10 ERA ball.
Gracie McDonald, Ocean Springs: The PRCC senior commit finished her career hitting an even .500 with 50 hits, 18 RBIs and 36 runs scored.
Mattie Gibson, Stone: Gibson was a dual threat, hitting .456 with 36 hits, 37 RBIs, and a 1.239 OPS while also posting a 2.01 ERA from the circle.
Gabby Smith, Harrison Central: Smith tossed 105 innings and put together an ERA of 1.53 with 125 strikeouts. The Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. signee also had 24 hits and 12 RBIs.
Breyona Tanner, East Central: Tanner had 40 hits as a senior with 22 RBIs and worked an ERA of 1.34 in 67.2 innings.
Abbie Danis, East Central: Danis recorded 10 doubles and four home runs from the plate and carved up batters with a 1.26 ERA and 116 strikeouts inside the circle.
Peyton Collins, George County: Collins enjoyed a dominant regular season, tossing 100 innings of 1.19 ERA ball with 135 strikeouts and holding batters to a .194 OBP.
Emma Franklin, D’Iberville: Franklin worked a 1.69 ERA with 134 strikeouts in just 87 innings. She also contributed with over 20 hits, including 11 doubles.

George County’s Peyton Collins reacts after a pitch during a softball game between George County and Hancock at Hancock High in Kiln on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald

Sun Herald Rising Stars

These are the Coast’s top underclassmen and the stars of tomorrow.

Peyton Collins, George County: Collins already has three full varsity seasons under her belt and has established herself as one of the state’s best pitchers heading into her junior year.
Kyleigh Howell, George County: Howell is quickly becoming one of the top power hitters in the region after breaking the school’s home run record as a freshman and following with over 20 extra base hits as a sophomore.
Gracie Shepherd, Ocean Springs: Shepherd’s freshman season was a loud one. She picked up 38 hits, drove in 27 runs and stacked her OPS to 1.093.
Nicole Bradford, Our Lady Academy: Bradford’s sophomore season was one of the best by any Coast batter. She recorded 15 extra base hits and scored 23 times while working a .660 batting average.
Annaleese Rabon, Pascagoula: Rabon starred with 14 extra base hits at the plate and 51 strikeouts from the circle as a freshman.
Mia Boney, St. Martin: The sophomore hit .410 with 34 hits, 24 runs scored and had a 1.154 OPS.
Hadleigh Hall, Vancleave: Hall tallied 41 hits as a freshman, including 12 for extra bases, driving in 21 runs and scoring 25 times.
Brooklyn Howard, Vancleave: Howard’s sophomore year saw her toss 135.1 innings with 86 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA. She also hit .297 with eight doubles and three home runs.
Reaghan Cuevas, West Harrison: The freshman impressed from the circle with 57 strikeouts and a 2.86 ERA in 78.1 innings.