Meet the Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Softball Team for the 2023 season

Scott Watkins
·7 min read

South Mississippi softball had another blistering season slammed with talent from one end of the Coast to the other.

Young stars continued their rise while veteran standouts left their mark.

George County sweeps Coach and Player of the Year honors after an impressive season on the diamond, while Karley Rouse and Teegan DeWitt’s two-way abilities also earn them spots atop the All-South Mississippi Team.

Coach of the Year

Kasey McCann, George County

Dynasty coming? McCann earns Coach of the Year for the second season in a row after guiding her Lady Rebels to the 5A state championship. Her squad surprised many in the postseason last year in a season that ended up serving as a warning for what was to come.

George County stormed its way to a 30-4 season and laid claim to the Coast’s only softball title with a sweep of Saltillo. With a young roster and only a few graduates, the Lady Rebels’ run may only be just beginning.

Player of the Year

Irina Sanford, George County

Sanford was a coach’s dream as a leadoff batter, compiling a .600 on base percentage with an OPS of 1.411. Sanford scored 47 times in 34 games and was instrumental in GCHS’s perfect postseason run.

The senior is set to begin her career at the next level at Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.

Fan’s Choice Player of the Year

Karley Rouse, D’Iberville

Rouse earned a strong 52% of the fan vote to earn the People’s Choice honor. Rouse was one of the top two-way players on the Coast, batting .446 while piecing together a 2.98 ERA from the circle.

The senior will continue her career at Copiah-Lincoln C.C. St. Patrick’s Elizabeth Olson finished in second place with 17 percent of the vote.

Underclassmen of the Year

Teegan DeWitt, Hancock

DeWitt followed up her sensational freshman campaign with another electric season. The sophomore struck out 191 batters to run her career total to nearly 400 in just two seasons.

She improved significantly at the plate, as well, recording 34 hits with a 1.247 OPS.

Sun Herald Starting Nine

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

  • Irina Sanford, George County: Sanford hit .528 for the Lady Rebels with 56 hits and 22 RBIs.

  • Karley Rouse, D’Iberville: Rouse built an OPS of 1.206 with 37 hits and four home runs.

  • Teegan DeWitt, Hancock: DeWitt slashed .453/.474/.773 at the plate and worked a 1.13 ERA from the circle.

  • Bree Phillips, East Central: Phillips toted one of the strongest bats on the Coast, slugging .801 with an OPS of 1.339. The junior hit seven home runs and 54 RBIs.

  • Gracie McDonald, Ocean Springs: McDonald followed up a great freshman year with a scorching sophomore season, slashing .522/.693/.817 with 42 runs on 51 hits.

  • Caroline Batson, Stone: The junior hit .500 from the plate with 22 RBIs while also striking out 108 batters with a 2.50 ERA.

  • Brooklynn Montana, Gulfport: Montana wrapped up an illustrious career at Gulfport with a senior year that saw the Jones College signee slash .394/.459/.888 with 33 runs scored.

  • Peyton Collins, George County: Only an eighth grader, Collins mystified batters with 164 strikeouts while putting together a 1.89 ERA. Collins was also named the 5A title series MVP.

  • Brooklyn Rhodes, Vancleave: The junior slashed .444/.526/.667 while also striking out 186 batters and working a 3.08 ERA.

George County’s Peyton Collins throws a pitch during a game at St. Martin on Monday, March 20, 2023. Hannah Ruhoff/Sun Herald
George County’s Peyton Collins throws a pitch during a game at St. Martin on Monday, March 20, 2023. Hannah Ruhoff/Sun Herald

All-South Mississippi Team

  • Macee Dunn, East Central: Dunn hit .454 with an OPS of 1.054 as a senior. The East Central C.C. signee scored 38 times on 49 hits.

  • Breyona Tanner, East Central: The sophomore picked up 43 hits at the plate with 35 RBIs while also tossing 115.1 innings with 60 strikeouts and a 2.91 ERA.

  • Baleigh Tullos, East Central: Tullos touched home plate 48 times as a junior with 42 hits and a .356 batting average.

  • Kailee Lawson, East Central: The sophomore batted .362 with 38 hits and 36 RBIs.

  • Lillie Evans, East Central: The Jones College commit OPS’d 1.090 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs as a junior.

  • K’Lee Gum, Ocean Springs: One of the top freshmen performers on the Coast, Gum had 37 hits and drove in 22 runs while scoring 31 times herself.

  • Farrah James, Ocean Springs: James had an OPS of 1.281 on 36 hits with five home runs and 26 RBIs.

  • Peyton Hoffmayer, Ocean Springs: The senior Pearl River C.C. duel-sport signee batted .373 with 31 hits and 43 RBIs.

  • Cailey Pervel, Pearl River Central: Another PRCC commit, Pervel hit .400 with six home runs and 34 RBIs on 32 hits.

  • Bayli Cucinello, Pearl River Central: The freshman had a strong year from the circle, striking out 69 batters while working a 2.31 ERA. Cucinello also recorded 16 hits and 11 RBIs.

  • Adriana Cuevas, Hancock: The Co-Lin commit slashed .358/.442/.761 in her senior season with five home runs.

  • Chaley Peterson, Hancock: Peterson picked up 21 hits at the plate while tossing 49 innings with 38 strikeouts and a 1.86 ERA from the circle.

  • Aleah Beaugez, D’Iberville: The MGCCC signee scored 31 times on 33 hits with two home runs and 33 RBIs.

  • Allee Bennett, St. Patrick: Bennett tossed 109.1 innings with 95 strikeouts and a 2.88 ERA her junior year.

  • Brooklyn Mitchell, St. Patrick: Mitchell had a strong junior campaign, batting .405 with 32 hits and 35 RBIs.

  • Elizabeth Colson, St. Patrick: The sophomore led her team with a .430 batting average and 40 hits and 38 runs scored.

  • Ashton Fairley, George County: An MGCCC signee, Fairley wrapped up her career with a 45-hit season with six home runs and 36 RBIs.

  • Sidnee Beech, George County: Beech slashed .422/.466/.578 as a junior with 43 hits and 23 RBIs.

  • Ary Dixon, George County: Dixon is another talented freshman, batting .420 with 37 hits and 29 runs scored.

  • Natalie Jones, George County: The junior had 33 hits, drove in 30 runs and scored 32 times.

  • Gracie Magee, George County: Magee picked up 30 hits at the plate while tossing 37 innings with 19 strikeouts and a 1.32 ERA.

  • Anna Kate Rounsaville, Gulfport: The PRCC signee had a 3.20 ERA from the circle and a .350 batting average at the plate.

  • Haley Hughes, Gulfport: Hughes led the Admirals in hits with 41 and drove in 18 runs as a junior, while also striking out 56 batters from the circle with a 2.45 ERA.

  • Fairley Hall, Gulfport: The sophomore enjoyed a breakout season as her OPS jumped 600 points to 1.085 with 38 hits and 19 RBIs.

  • Caroline Woodward, Gulfport: Woodward hit .385 as a sophomore with 35 hits and 23 runs scored.

  • Gabrielle Smith, Harrison Central: Smith was once again the Red Rebels’ top pitcher and earned Region 8-6A Pitcher of the Year honors.

  • Abbie Hancock, West Harrison: Hancock hit .477 with 41 hits and 30 runs scored as a junior.

  • KK Williams, West Harrison: Williams led the Hurricanes with a 1.175 OPS. The junior drove in 33 runs on 35 hits.

  • Jada McCalebb, West Harrison: The Miles College signee led her team in RBIs with 36 on 34 hits.

  • Autumn Johnson, St. Martin: The senior outfielder led the Yellow Jackets with a .381 batting average.

  • Alivia Allen, St. Martin: Allen put together a .379 batting average as a freshman catcher.

St. Martin’s Autumn Johnson catches a ball in the outfield during a game against George County at St. Martin High School in Ocean Springs on Monday, March 20, 2023. Hannah Ruhoff/Sun Herald
St. Martin’s Autumn Johnson catches a ball in the outfield during a game against George County at St. Martin High School in Ocean Springs on Monday, March 20, 2023. Hannah Ruhoff/Sun Herald

Honorable mention

Carley Mataya, PRC; Brooklyn Cuevas, Hancock; Piper Rushing, D’Iberville; Mattie Gibson, Stone; Laila Bullen, Stone; Caroline Lindsey, Gulfport; Shaylynn Hoak, Vancleave; Aubree Hunter, Vancleave; Gabby Moore, Vancleave; Nia Shannon, Biloxi; Jaylin Jones, West Harrison; Tara Nasakaitis, St. Patrick; Makenzi Fontenot, St. Patrick

Missing someone? Send nominations with season stats to swatkins@sunherald.com.