The season is just around the corner. Meet the top softball players in South Mississippi
Softball on the Mississippi Coast is quickly approaching.
The new season will bring a new opportunity for the area to dominate again after earning two state titles between George County and East Central last year.
South Mississippi is again brimming with softball talent and stocked with teams primed for a run at a state championship.
We break down some of the can’t-miss talent on the Coast here.
Preseason Sun Herald Starting Nine
The best of the Coast, regardless of position.
Abby Danis, East Central: The reigning 5A state title series MVP is back after a year in which she led the Coast in hits with 53 while also pitching to a 1.26 ERA with 116 strikeouts.
Kyleigh Howell, George County: Howell takes 16 career home runs and 60 extra base hits into her junior season as one of the most prolific power hitters to put on the Lady Rebels uniform.
Peyton Collins, George County: Also only a junior, Collins has already amassed 415 career strikeouts and put together a 38-8 record with a 1.85 ERA.
Addison Davis, George County: The senior Copiah-Lincoln signee is a two-way standout, solidifying the lineup and providing the Lady Rebels a dangerous second starter with career 1.70 ERA and 31-4 record.
Emma Franklin, Ocean Springs: Franklin will finish her career on a loaded Greyhounds squad after striking out 134 batters and constructing a 1.69 ERA for D’Iberville as a junior.
K’Lee Gum, Ocean Springs: Gum enters her senior year with 150 career hits already under her belt, including a career-best 12 extra base hits last season.
Taylor Farra, Ocean Springs: Farra anchors a powerful Greyhounds lineup, and is coming off a season in which 19 of her 32 total hits went for extra bases.
Annaleese Rabon, Pascagoula: Rabon enjoyed a breakout freshman season in 2025, collecting 38 hits from the plate and pitching a 3.10 ERA from the circle.
Hadleigh Hall, Vancleave: Another 2028 standout, Hall recorded 41 hits as a freshman and finished the season with a 1.085 OPS.
Players to watch on the Coast
Aubrey Atchison, Biloxi: Atchison had a 1.014 OPS with 29 hits and 27 runs scored.
Lizzy Kennedy, East Central: Kennedy is a University of Mobile signee, who registered 42 hits with 40 runs scored as a junior.
Sierra Smith, Gautier: The three-sport athlete is heading to Reid State C.C. and coming off a season that saw her bat .404 with a 1.208 OPS.
Aryana Dixon, George County: One of four Lady Rebels bound for Pearl River C.C., the outfielder is coming off a 52-hit season in which she scored 40 runs.
Blakely Slay, George County: Slay is a PRCC signee and the reigning 6A state title series MVP. She recorded 31 hits as a junior and struck out only four times in 105 plate appearances.
Jordyn Bradley, George County: Bradley enters her senior year with 80 career hits and 78 runs scored. She’s a PRCC signee.
Marleigh Lowe, Gulfport: The middle infielder drove in 27 runs off a .912 OPS as a junior and is signed to continue her career at Lurleen B. Wallace.
Gracie Shepherd, Ocean Springs: The catcher broke out as a freshman with 38 hits, 12 extra base hits and 27 RBIs.
Laynee Davis, Ocean Springs: Davis built a 1.109 OPS on 31 hits as a sophomore infielder for the Greyhounds.
Kerrigan Scott, Ocean Springs: Scott enters her junior year already committed to Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. after recording 31 hits, 32 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
Nicole Bradford, Our Lady Academy: Bradford dominated for OLA as a sophomore, getting 31 hits in only 60 plate appearances with 15 going for extra bases.
Mia Boney, St. Martin: The PRCC commit hit .410 as a sophomore with a 1.010 OPS for the Lady Jackets.
Addysen Peyret, St. Patrick: The senior shortstop batted .450 last season while putting together a 1.164 OPS.
Brooklyn Howard, Vancleave: The two-way junior impressed during her sophomore season with an .852 OPS and a 3.10 ERA from the circle.
Reaghan Cuevas, West Harrison: Cuevas is building off a strong freshman season where she put together a 2.86 ERA with 57 strikeouts.
Impact players
- Kya Gammons, Biloxi
- Hadleigh Tatum, George County
- Alexis O’Neal, George County
- Georgia Emmer, Gulfport
- Kenleigh McIver, Hancock
- Samantha Williamson, Stone
- Graysee Necaise, West Harrison
- Rayleigh Necaise, West Harrison
This story was originally published January 29, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
