Hernando won the 2026 Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 7A Softball State Championship by defeating Ocean Springs 9-7 on May 15 at the USM Softball Complex in Hattiesburg.
The victory marks a significant achievement for Hernando, who finished their season with a record of 30-9. Ocean Springs concluded their season at 31-6. Kaitly Gentry was named Most Valuable Player after going two-for-four and scoring three runs.
Ocean Springs took a late lead by scoring five runs in the top of the sixth inning, making it a 7-4 game. However, Hernando responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Jayla Sites and a solo home run from Graycin Higginbotham. Sites finished two-for-three with four RBIs, while Callie Desmond, Molly Anderson, and Hayden Hodge each contributed key hits and RBIs for Hernando.
For Ocean Springs, Taylor Farra drove in two runs on one hit, K’lee Gum went two-for-four with an RBI, Kalaiyah Shepherd homered and added another RBI, and Kerrigan Scott scored twice while also driving in a run. Olivia Skinner earned the win for Hernando after pitching six innings and allowing seven runs—only two earned—on eight hits while striking out five batters. Madeline Sowell secured the save with a scoreless seventh inning that included two strikeouts.
Emma Franklin took the loss for Ocean Springs after allowing nine runs (seven earned) over six innings pitched. The game lasted just over two hours under sunny skies with temperatures reaching eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit.
The result concludes another competitive season for both teams as they look ahead to future campaigns.
