All-South Mississippi Team celebrates top players from 2026 softball season
A mix of veteran standouts and rising talents helped the Mississippi Coast produce two South State champions and laid the foundation for more success in the near future.
This year’s Player of the Year is the record-shattering Addison Davis of Pearl River Central. She’s honored alongside Underclassman of the Year Bristol Jones and Coach of the Year Lindsay Linton.
Here is this season’s All-South Mississippi Softball Team.
Sun Herald Player of the Year
Addison Davis, Pearl River Central
The sophomore catcher carried a flaming bat this season. Davis rewrote the school’s record books with a monster campaign at the plate. She crushed the PRC record for home runs in a single season with a state-best 18.
Davis batted .556 and drove in a staggering 72 runs in helping lead the Blue Devils to a South State title series appearance.
Fan’s Choice Player of the Year
Addison Davis, Pearl River Central
The people are in agreement. Davis is the Sun Herald’s first and only double Player of the Year winner of the current athletic school year.
Gulfport’s Paige Moore finished second in voting followed by Hancock’s Kenleigh McIver.
Underclassman of the Year
Bristol Jones, Pass Christian
With an underclassman occupying the top honor, we’ll use this award to spotlight another dominant sophomore. Jones eclipsed 500 career strikeouts during a 306-strikeout season from the circle.
Jones also batted .462 with 42 hits and 35 RBIs. She helped guide the Pirates to a 26-win season.
Coach of the Year
Lindsay Linton, Ocean Springs
Linton’s Greyhounds enjoyed the most successful season in program history. Ocean Springs finished the year with a 29-10 record, won a region title and made its first appearance in the 7A final after winning the school’s first South State championship.
Sun Herald Starting Nine
These were South Mississippi’s best softball players, regardless of position.
Londyn Ford, D’Iberville: The Warriors’ sophomore ace had a 2.23 ERA and struck out 167 batters in 147.2 innings.
Grace Tanner, East Central: Tanner was a part of the Coast’s select 50-hit club with 51 hits, 37 RBIs and a 1.461 OPS.
Abby Danis, East Central: Danis starred from the circle with a 1.54 ERA and 124 strikeouts. She also had 38 hits and drove in 34 runs.
Addison Davis, George County: Davis put together a 1.33 ERA with 196 strikeouts heading into the state finals. The senior also batted .432 with 13 runs driven in.
Paige Moore, Gulfport: Moore scored 45 runs on 39 hits. She recorded 18 extra base hits and drove in 32 runs.
Emma Franklin, Ocean Springs: The Greyhound ace recorded over 200 strikeouts from the circle while batting over .300 with 20 RBIs.
Bristol Jones, Pass Christian: Jones not only led the state in strikeouts, but her 0.87 ERA was also the lowest across 4A.
Addison Davis, Pearl River Central: Davis led the Coast in hits (60), extra base hits (36) and OPS (1.863).
Sophia Wilson, Vancleave: Wilson tossed 100.2 innings of 1.81 ERA softball with 97 batters cut down.
Sun Herald Rising Stars
These are the Coast’s top underclassmen and the stars of tomorrow.
Annabella Simmons, Biloxi: The freshman tossed 51 innings from the circle and put together a 2.47 ERA.
Kieleigh West, D’Iberville: An eighth grader, West recorded 35 hits with 38 runs scored and logged a 1.107 OPS.
Londyn Ford, D’Iberville: Ford led the Lady Warriors with 11 pitching wins.
Grace Tanner, East Central: Tanner had 20 extra base hits and scored 32 times.
Ryland Ellzey, Harrison Central: Ellzey threw 83 innings of 2.11 ERA ball with 39 strikeouts as an eighth grader.
Bristol Jones, Pass Christian: Jones drove in 35 runs, scored 37 runs herself and had a 1.259 OPS.
Addison Davis, Pearl River Central: Davis’ 36 extra base hits led the Coast.
Peyton Parks, St. Patrick: The freshman two-way standout had 33 hits and 23 runs at the plate and a 3.55 ERA with 84 strikeouts in the circle.
Sophia Wilson, Vancleave: Only a seventh-grader, Wilson’s breakout campaign saw her hold opponents to a .194 batting average.
Reaghan Cuevas, West Harrison: Cuevas stood in the circle for 68 innings as a sophomore, compiling a 1.75 ERA with 82 strikeouts.
All-South Mississippi Team
Kya Gammons, Biloxi: Gammons threw 51.2 innings with 29 strikeouts and a 2.71 ERA.
Abby Ledbetter, D’Iberville: Ledbetter paced the Warriors with 36 hits and drove in 40 runs.
Annah Niceley, D’Iberville: The Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. signee had 33 hits with 33 RBIs and led the team with her 1.234 OPS.
Lizzy Kennedy, East Central: The junior University of Mobile commit had 43 hits and a team-leading 36 runs. She was among the Coast’s leaders in home runs with seven.
Lauren Pinkston, East Central: Pinkston picked up 39 hits and scored 32 times as a sophomore.
Angelina Gutierrez, East Central: Gutierrez had 35 hits with 26 RBIs and a .986 OPS.
Aryana Dixon, George County: Dixon led the Lady Rebels with over 40 hits and put together a .430 batting average.
Braylee Bishop, George County: The junior led the Rebels with 36 RBIs and was the team’s leader in walks.
Blakely Slay, George County: Slay had a team-best 1.080 OPS while driving in 28 runs with eight doubles.
Marleigh Lowe, Gulfport: Lowe had recorded 32 hits with eight doubles and four triples and finished the year with a 1.021 OPS.
Kenleigh McIver, Hancock: McIver led the Lady Hawks with 42 hits. The senior hit 12 doubles and picked up 23 RBIs.
Kalli Slade, Hancock: Slade registered 41 hits with a .441 batting average and 29 runs scored.
Paityn Langley, Hancock: Of Langley’s 29 hits, 18 of them were for extra bases. She hit 12 doubles and claimed an OPS of 1.121.
McKinlee Campbell, Hancock: Campbell led the team in home runs with four and walks with 15 on her way to a 1.153 OPS.
Jailey Gartman, Harrison Central: The sophomore led the team in pitching wins with 10 while tossing 87 innings with a 2.82 ERA.
Emilye Seiferd, Harrison Central: Seiferd picked up 34 hits with four home runs and 29 RBIs.
K’Lee Gum, Ocean Springs: The Jones College commit led the Greyhounds with a 50-hit season and a batting average over .400.
Kerrigan Scott, Ocean Springs: Scott had over 40 hits as a junior and posted a 1.050 OPS.
Laynee Davis, Ocean Springs: Davis led the team in walks and hit a team-high seven home runs.
Taylor Farra, Ocean Springs: One of four Greyhounds with an OPS above 1.000, Farra led the team in RBIs and doubles.
Bayli Cucinello, Pearl River Central: Cucinello reached 500 career strikeouts during a 137-K season where she also batted .400 at the plate.
Alexa Vaughn, Pearl River Central: Vaughn’s sophomore season saw her bat .387 with 24 stolen bases.
Rowan Romano, St. Patrick: Romano had 37 hits and drove in 33 runs while batting .402 with a .916 OPS.
Mackenzye Stapp, St. Patrick: Stapp led the Lady Irish in runs scored with 36. She logged 32 hits and batted .405.
