Slow-pitch softball will be discontinued as an MHSAA sport, effective with the recently completed 2019 season. The MHSAA Executive Committee — made up of 15 school administrators from throughout the state — made its decision this month.
Approximately 75 of the MHSAA’s 248 high schools competed in slow-pitch in the Fall 2019 season, down significantly from the more than 160 schools that signed up to participate six years ago. Meanwhile, 214 schools have signed up to participate in fast-pitch softball in Spring 2020.
“Fast-pitch softball has continued to grow and has become one of our largest sports in terms of participation for our schools,” MHSAA Executive Director Don Hinton said. “More and more girls and young ladies are focusing exclusively on fast-pitch, which is played on the college level. Those changes are reflected in many schools discontinuing slow-pitch even before the state association reached this point.
“The growth of volleyball, which is also a fall sport, has paralleled the decline in participation with slow-pitch. The MHSAA expanded from three to four classifications in volleyball this year to accommodate a number of our schools that have added the sport in the past few years. We are expecting even more to do so in the near future.”
Herren is MACJC Women’s Soccer Player of the Week
East Central Community College freshman forward Hannah Herren was voted the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College Women’s Soccer Player of the Week for her play the week of Oct. 14-20.
Herren picked up a goal and an assist as the Lady Warriors clinched postseason play with a 3-1 win at Northwest on Oct. 15. She followed that with a two goal performance in the final regular season match of the year, a 4-1 home win over Dyersburg State (Tenn.) on Oct. 18.
In her first season at East Central, Herren is tied for second on the team with seven goals and is third in assists with five.
