Storylines, teams, players to watch
The 2024 Tennessee and Mississippi high school softball seasons are underway.
Here’s everything you need to know about this season, including the top players, storylines and top teams.
Memphis area high school softball 2024 storylines
Will the Memphis area have a state champion this year?
You’d have to go back to 2014 for the last time a Memphis area softball team took home a state championship trophy in a Tennessee state championship game. That was Tipton-rosemark, which won a TSSAA Division II-A title. While a couple of teams have gotten close, the title drought could reach the 10-year mark if a team doesn’t win it this year.
Another Lewisburg-hernando showdown?
Lewisburg and Hernando had as intense of a playoff series as you could have last season. The Patriots defeated Hernando to reach the North Half championship game for just the third time in program history last year. The Patriots came up short, losing to South Panola in the semifinals.
Who is on Memphis area softball state championship watch?
Lewisburg: The Patriots might have loss some key pieces to their team, but their off to a strong start this season. They reached the Mississippi Activities Association 6A semifinals last season and look to contend for a title again this year.
Hernando: The Tigers might have come up short to Lewisburg, but if the two meet again, it wouldn’t be farfetched to say the winner of that game reaches the title game. The Tigers have
reached the title game in two of the last three years. They won in 2021 and were runner-up in 2022.
Other Memphis area softball teams to watch
Arlington: Though the Tigers lost one of the best pitchers in school history, they get one of their best players back from injury this year. Addie Graham could be the reason Arlington returns to the state tournament for the second-straight season.
Brighton: While losing Brie Howard, who’s a freshman at Austin Peay, the Cardinals return a couple of key players that could help them return to the state tournament after losing in the district tournament last year to Ripley.
Collierville: The Dragons reached the sectional game last year and lost to Henry County. They should be a contender to reach the sectional game again and could return to the state tournament for the first time since 2021.
Tipton-rosemark: The Rebels reached the DII-AA state semifinals
last season, losing to eventual state champion Baylor. Don’t be surprised to see them back in Murfreesboro this season and return to the state championship game for the first time since 2021.
St. Benedict: The Eagles might have struggled last year, but they reached the quarterfinals, losing 2-0 to Baylor. With Charlee Smith and Zoie Bernard, the Eagles could make a deep playoff run and return to Murfreesboro for the first time since 2021.
Memphis area softball players to watch
Zoie Bernard, St. Benedict, Jr.: Bernard, a Michigan State commit, had a batting average over .500 last season with the Eagles. She also was the team leader in stolen bases in 2023.
Aliya Garcia, Brighton, Jr.: Garcia had a .400 batting average last season with 10 home runs and eight doubles.
Addie Graham, Arlington, Sr.: After missing last season due to injury, Graham, a Central Arkansas signee, returns to the lineup this season. In 2022, she had a .667 batting average and 44 RBIS.
Kendall Harper, Collierville, Jr.: Harper had a .506 batting average with 37 RBIS last season with the Dragons.
Brooke Harrison, Tipton-rosemark, Sr: Harrison had a .505 batting average with eight doubles, four triples and 35 stolen bases.
Olivia Higginbotham, Hernando, Jr.: Last season, Higginbotham had a .454 batting average with 31 stolen bases, 21 RBIS and seven doubles.
Lanie Howe, Tipton-rosemark, So.: Howe had a .370 batting average, 45 RBIS, 13 doubles and three home runs.
Kaylea Howell, Houston, Jr.: Howell had a .545 batting average last season with 37 RBIS with the Mustangs.
Kate Johnson, Hernando, So.: Johnson was one of the top pitchers for the Tigers last season with an 11-2 record and a 2.51 ERA. She also recorded 105 strikeouts.
Laney Lawson, Brighton, Jr.: As a pitcher last season, Lawson had 80 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched with 80 strikeouts.
Adin Shelton, Brighton, Sr.: Shelton, a Northeast Mississippi Community College signee, had a .310 batting average with nine doubles and five home runs last season.
Leona Stokes, Lewisburg, So.: Stokes was one of the top hitters for the Patriots last season with 35 RBIS, seven doubles, four triples and two home runs.
Charlee Smith, St. Benedict, Sr.: Smith, a Southwest Tennessee Community College commit, had a batting average over .400 last season and was second on the team in RBIS.
Mckenzie Walker, Arlington, Jr.: Walker had a .422 batting average and 27 RBIS last season with the Tigers.
Avery Wright, Arlington, Sr.: Wright, a Volunteer State Community College signee, had a .391 batting average with 28 RBIS last season.
Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @wynstonw__.