Lady Tigers will face Northwest Rankin in a rematch of last year’s state final series
May 8, 2025 – You can go ahead and slot the Hernando Lady Tigers back into the MHSAA 7A state championship series at Hattiesburg next week. Hernando heads back to the Southern Miss Softball Complex Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 15 where coach Nicki Whitten’s squad looks to take home a championship denied them last season by Northwest Rankin, the team they will face again for the title.
Thursday, Hernando easily drove past Madison Central 11-1 in five innings to sweep the best-of-three North Half championship series in two straight games.
On a night where several players contributed, Hernando’s top of the batting order, Olivia Higginbotham and Jayla Sites, did much of the damage. Higginbotham and Sites each scored three runs, Higginbotham had two hits and Sites hit safely three times.
“Higginbotham has been unstoppable this year, she has really, really stepped up and just been the senior leader at the plate that we need,” Whitten said. “She’s really just embracing the moment and wants the bat in her hands and in big, big moments, if I’m being honest with you, she wants the bat in her hands.”
Two of Sites’ trio of hits were doubles.
“She has been outstanding on defense,” Whitten said of Sites. “I know she’s been waiting on her bat to come alive and I feel like she found it tonight. We really needed somebody to step up, and she did that.”
Molly Anderson also doubled and Macie Dever Boaz added a triple, part of a 12-hit attack.
Pitchers Kate Johnson and Oliva Skinner were stingy in the circle for Hernando, both allowing just one hit in the run-rule shortened victory, a win that followed a 5-0 Lady Tiger victory to open the series in Madison Wednesday night.
While Madison Central was top of mind, Whitten admitted her Lady Tigers have been wanting to return to Hattiesburg to settle what they felt was unfinished business after last year’s series loss in the finals to Northwest Rankin.
Players collect dirt from the infield during the post game. Thursday was the last game played on field.
“I knew they wanted to go back (to Hattiesburg), and they just think they are ready to be back there and compete at that level,” Whitten said.
Thursday’s game was also special as it was the last one to be played at the Hernando Middle School diamond. During the post game, players were given small jars and told to fill it with dirt from the infield as a momento.
Hernando softball will have a new diamond to play at next season on the new high school campus off McIngvale Road.
Northwest Rankin became the team Hernando will face in the final round after a 12-5 victory over Petal Thursday gave the Lady Cougars the South Half championship in two straight games. The championship schedule will have the teams play at 5:45 p.m. both Wednesday and Thursday with a game three either Friday or Saturday.
Thursday, May 8
Prep baseball playoffs
MAIS AAAAA North Half finals (best of three)
Leake Academy 3, Magnolia Heights 1
Magnolia Heights 4, Leake Academy 0 (Magnolia Heights wins 2-1)
Prep softball playoffs
MHSAA 7A North Half Final (best of three)
Hernando 11, Madison Central 1 (5 innings) (Hernando leads 2-0)
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Northpoint Christian School baseball players have been named to all-district and all-region teams.
Congrats to the following members of the baseball team named to All District and All Region Teams: pic.twitter.com/GiQT7Rd3EZ
The 19th annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes State Qualifying Golf Scramble has been set for Aug. 25 at Cherokee Valley Golf Club in Olive Branch. The top three gross teams and top three net score winners will qualify for the state FCA Golf Scramble, to be played at the Country Club of Jackson on Oct. 20. Call 901-409-1927 for more information.
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