The Hancock Lady Hawks put together a great season and a thrilling run to the Class 6A state softball championship series.
Unfortunately for the Lady Hawks, the South Panola Lady Tigers used outstanding pitching and timely hitting to sneak past Hancock 2-1 in Game One on Tuesday and 1-0 in Game Two on Thursday to sweep the title at the Southern Miss Softball Complex in Hattiesburg.
South Panola’s all-time home run leader, Shania Fondren, hit a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth inning in Game Two to carry the Lady Tigers to the championship-clinching victory. The pitching was phenomenal on both sides, including Hancock’s Teegan DeWitt.
“I hate losing but we just played in the state championship and lost 2-1 and 1-0,” said second-year Hancock coach Josef Rankin. “Teegan DeWitt is one of the best in the state. South Panola found a way to scratch a run across and we couldn’t, and it came down to that.”
In the championship game, Hancock threatened in the first and sixth innings. In the top of the first with one out, DeWitt singled up the middle to center field. Hancock basketball sensation Brooklyn Cuevas followed with a line drive to center, putting runners at first and second before the rally stalled after a flyout and a fielder’s choice.
In the sixth, DeWitt reached on an error and Cuevas walked but South Panola sophomore pitcher and surprise starter Grady Wilson got a popout and a double play to end the rally. Then Fondren homered in the bottom of the inning for the game-winning hit and the contest’s only run.
Wilson’s turn in the circle was unexpected considering that South Panola senior Sadie Bright was the winner of Game One and the pitching leader of the 30-5 team all season.
Lady Tigers coach Ashleigh Hicks said the left-handed Wilson kept Hancock off balance all game. Then Hicks put Bright in to pick up the final three outs and receive the series’ MVP honors.
South Panola was able to earn redemption for a loss in the state championship in 2023 to Northwest Rankin, which is now in 7A with a 33-0 record and the No. 3 ranking in the nation.
Hancock’s Rankin raved about his team and the leadership of DeWitt, his junior pitcher.
“She is a great kid,” he said. “I get to see the work she puts in every day with a smile. She competes and wants to win at everything even if it’s rock, paper, scissors. The greatest thing is to watch her not have a good at-bat and immediately turn her attention to her teammates and cheer them on.
“She was a little tired out there today, but she gave us everything she had and kept us in the game. That is all I will ever ask of her.
“I am very proud of this team and the effort they put in all season.”
Hancock finishes 22-6-1 as the 6A state runner-up.
