HATTIESBURG — Since Hernando softball’s state championship in 2021, the Southern Miss Softball Complex has not delivered the best of memories.
The Lady Tigers suffered state championship defeats in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
“Well, to come in here the last two years and lose that’ll fire you up,” Hernando coach Nicki Whitten said. “These kids have been a part of the good and the tough.”
Junior Graycin Higginbotham said a sour taste lingered after the recent results. Shortstop Jayla Sites hinted that more offseason work was needed, as did much of the team.
Hernando (32-5) used a five-run sixth inning to win the MHSAA 7A championship this time, taking Game 3, 9-7, on May 15 against Ocean Springs (29-11).
“I’m just so glad my kids responded like they have, all year in tight games,” Whitten said. “They’ve just found a way to do it for each other. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Hernando claimed its second title. Ocean Springs was in its first state final appearance.
“It was amazing, because we’ve been here so many times, and it hasn’t worked out for us,” said Hernando’s Kaitlyn Gentry, who won game MVP. “We’re all best friends, and we knew how much we deserved it. It’s just surreal.”
After Hernando won Game 1 on May 13, 10-4, the Lady Tigers fell to the Greyhounds in Game 2 on May 14, 4-2.
Hernando trailed 7-4 in the top half of the sixth inning after the Lady Tigers allowed five runs to cross for Ocean Springs in Game 3. Gentry said her team had to pick each other up. Hernando answered with a five-run inning of its own.
“Our big thing is one pitch at a time,” Higginbotham said. “It’s never over until the last pitch, so that’s what we preach.”
Sites and Higginbotham had back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning, including a grand slam from Sites.
“I knew my team really needed me in that moment, and I felt it coming,” Sites said. “I knew I had to do something big for my team, and that’s where me and Graycin came in and did a great job.”
Gentry went 6-for-11 at the plate in the series.
Ocean Springs pitcher Emma Franklin threw 18 innings with 17 strikeouts.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X @MikeSChavez or Facebook at Michael Chavez.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MHSAA softball, Hernando beats Ocean Springs in 7A championship
