While the Hernando High School softball team has been running through the schedule to a Region 1-7A championship and top seed from the region in the postseason playoffs, coach Caleb Gilbert’s Lewisburg Lady Patriots made a strong statement Thursday saying, “Don’t forget about us when it counts.”
Lewisburg’s 10-8 victory over county rival Hernando Thursday night put the Lady Patriots within one win of advancing to the MHSAA 7A North Half championship and a shot at a state championship visit to Hattiesburg.
Gilbert said after the game some clean up work needed to be done defensively ahead of Friday’s game two at Lewisburg, starting at 6 p.m., but the Lady Patriots needed to match Hernando’s offensive threat and his team did just that.
In particular, Anna Etter with her two home runs and four RBIs did major damage to Hernando. Etter blasted a three-run round tripper in the top of the third inning that gave the Lady Patriots a 4-1 lead at the time. She later provided the game-tying run in the seventh inning, sending a softball over the right field fence that knotted the contest up at 8-8.
“Her timing and her pitch selection is just so good, she doesn’t swing and miss a lot,” Gilbert said. “When she’s ready to swing, she’s looking to do damage.”
With a total of four RBIs against Hernando Thursday night, Etter became the school’s all-time career RBI leader.
Etter was not the only Lady Patriot circling the bases Thursday night, as Kara Walker and Makayla Johnson also homered.
As far as last year’s state 7A runner up was concerned, Hernando got a roundtripper from Callie Desmond, one of 13 hits for the Lady Tigers. Katelyn Kirkpatrick, Hayden Hodge and Bella Adams all hit doubles in the loss.
After both teams opened with single runs in the second, Lewisburg broke out with a three-run third frame, thanks to Etter’s home run. But Hernando answered with a five-run third inning that seemed to wrest away control of the contest.
The big inning was fueled by Adams’ run-scoring double, Hodge’s double that scored two runs, and Desmond’s solo homer, giving the Lady Tigers a 6-4 lead.
Lewisburg would score solo runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but Hernando would plate a pair of runs in the sixth inning to lead 8-6 heading into the seventh.
Kara Walker and Etter then greeted Hernando pitcher Olivia Skinner in the seventh with back-to-back homers to tie the game and force extra innings.
With the international extra-inning softball rule, Lewisburg started the frame with Lindey Willhite on second base. Willhite would score the lead run on a single from Leona-Klaire Stokes, who would later come home herself on a single from Lexi Edmiston.
Then, it was up to pitcher Ella Abrams to finish the job. Abrams and the Lady Patriots defense set Hernando down in order to win.
“Ella was so clutch,” Gilbert said about his starting pitcher. “We know their offense is good and we know they are going to score some runs. But she is poised to come out and be a senior and continue to give us a chance to win.”
Hernando’s offense was led by Hodge, with two runs, three hits and two RBIs. Macie Dever Boaz also scored twice and Kaitlyn Gentry finished with three hits for the night.
Kate Johnson opened the game in the circle for Hernando and pitched three innings, allowing four runs on four hits and throwing two strikeouts. Skinner relieved Johnson in the fourth once Hernando had its five-run outburst and pitched five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and fanning two.
Northpoint Christian 18, St. George’s 1 (3 innings)
Northpoint scored 14 times in the first inning. Hannah Bostain-3 runs. Ella Myrick-3 runs. Makenlee Bryant-2 RBIs. Trinity Garvin-2 IP, 1 run, 1 earned run, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts. Northpoint next plays on May 5th, 4 p.m. at St. George’s.
Prep boys soccer
TSSAA Division II-A West Region second round
Northpoint Christian at Lausanne
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DeSoto Central announced all-DeSoto County softball team selections.
Congratulations to Colby Young, Londen Armstrong, Charlotte Mostert, & Makayla Jamison for being named to the 2025 All-County team! #GDTBAJpic.twitter.com/ZmJOEIhnKI
— Desoto Central Jaguar Softball (@sball_DC) May 1, 2025
DeSoto Central softball also announced its all-Region 1-7A first team choices.
Congratulations to Londen Armstrong, Colby Young, & Charlotte Mostert for being named to the 2025 All-Region 1-7A team! #GDTBAJpic.twitter.com/AhU6HFKx4M
— Desoto Central Jaguar Softball (@sball_DC) May 1, 2025
Catcher Joe Aikens of Hernando baseball signs to play next season at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
Congratulations to Joe Aikens for signing to play baseball at NWCC next year. pic.twitter.com/1DRmX4X6EK
