Tia'Rain Saunders

Players from seven schools comprise this year’s Premier Preps of East Mississippi softball team, which also includes a two-time Mississippi Gatorade softball player of the year and four future college softball players. Through the different athletic seasons, coaches nominate players from their respective teams, and the Star’s sports staff selects from the pool of nominees. Here are several numbers that defined this year’s softball selections. 

21: Home runs 

There was no shortage of power from Premier Preps selections, as the group combined to bash 21 during the season. Newton County’s Jada McDougle led the way with five, and Union’s Mackenzie Dolan checked in at No. 2 with four. Choctaw Central’s Tia’Rain Saunders added three round-trippers.

34: Wins by Neshoba Central

The Lady Rockets led the way with four Premier Preps representatives, which should come as no surprise, as Neshoba Central enjoyed a 34-0 season en route to its sixth-consecutive MHSAA Class 5A state championship. Neshoba Central allowed just nine runs in the postseason while posting 52 runs on opponents. The Lady Rockets currently boast a 39-game win streak that dates back to May 2, 2017. 

2: Seniors on the team

This year’s Premier Preps softball team mirrored last years in that a number of younger players earned selections. Clarkdale’s Makayla Roberts and Union’s Mackenzie Dolan, however, checked in as the group’s lone seniors. Both will play at the next level, as Roberts is heading to East Central Community College, and Dolan is heading to East Mississippi Community College.

4: College commits 

A quartet of Premier Preps selections has committed to play collegiate softball. Neshoba Central’s Aspen Wesley has verbally committed to Mississippi State for the 2019 season, and West Lauderdale’s Lexie Smith has pledged her commitment to the University of Southern Miss in 2020. Clarkdale’s Makayla Roberts has signed with East Central Community College and Union’s Mackenzie Dolan has signed with East Mississippi Community College.

.464: Combined batting average

The 11 Premier Preps selections combined to produce a .464 batting average. Union’s Mackenzie Dolan’s .622 batting average paced the group, and Clarkdale’s Makayla Roberts’ .505 batting average helped skyrocket the number. Neshoba Central’s Rivers Gray, Tenly Grisham, Tori Henderson and Aspen Wesley; Philadelphia’s Tyesha Cole; Choctaw Central’s Tia’Rain Saunders; and Newton County’s Jada McDougle each ended the year with .400-plus batting averages.

3: Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Stars 

After enjoying successful seasons, three Premier Preps of Mississippi players were selected to play in the 2018 Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Game, which will take place June 1-2 at Jones County Junior College. Philadelphia’s Tyesha Cole will represent the 1A/2A/3A North Team, while Neshoba Central’s Aspen Wesley and Rivers Gray will represent the  4A/5A/6A North Team. 

 

                                    2018 Team Members 

 

 

Aspen Wesley

Pitcher

Junior

Neshoba Central

Why she’s here: Wesley, a 2019 Mississippi State commit, undoubtedly has the distinction of having the best arm in the state, but she can also make a case for having one of the best in the nation. Wesley ended the year with a .016 ERA, 316 strikeouts, 23 wins and an MHSAA Class 5A state championship. She also tossed 11 no-hitters. Wesley batted .421 with 31 RBIs, 10 doubles and two home runs. She will represent the North in the 2018 Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Game.

 

 

 Lexie Smith

Pitcher

Sophomore

West Lauderdale 

Why she’s here: Smith ended the year with a 1.97 ERA and a 1.000 fielding percentage. Offensively, she batted for a .360 average. Smith is currently committed to the University of Southern Mississippi. 

 

 

 

 

Nia Luckett

Pitcher

Sophomore

Philadelphia 

Why she’s here: Luckett threw 107 innings this year and finished the season with a 2.44 ERA. She struck out 153 batters to help the Lady Tornadoes claim the Region 4-2A championship before they fell to East Union in the third round of the MHSAA Class 2A playoffs. Luckett batted for a .390 average and scored 23 runs to go along with 17 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

 

 

 

 

Mackenzie Dolan

Catcher

Senior

Union

Why she’s here: Dolan produced video game-like numbers for the Lady Jackets and she played a large role in helping them reach the third round of the MHSAA Class 2A postseason. Dolan batted .622 to go along with four home runs, 43 RBIs, 11 doubles and six triples. Dolan, who has committed to East Mississippi Community College, is a four-time Region 4-2A player.

 

 

 

 

Tyesha Cole

Infield

Junior

Philadelphia 

Why she’s here: Cole saw action at both catcher and third base for the Lady Tornadoes, but she logged most of her playing time on the hot corner. Cole ended the season with a .492 batting average, two home runs, nine doubles and six triples. She knocked in 21 RBIs and scored 26 runs. Cole is a 2018 Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star selection.

 

 

 

 

Tenly Grisham

Infield

Eighth grade

Neshoba Central 

Why she’s here: After landing on the Premier Preps squad last year, Grisham again is the youngest member of this year’s Premier Preps team. Grisham, Neshoba Central’s lead-off batter, scored 50 runs to go along with 27 stolen bases and a .453 batting average. She hit nine doubles, two home runs, four triples and tallied 13 RBIs. Grisham was named to the Region 3-5A team.

 

 

 

 

Tori Henderson

Infield

Junior

Neshoba Central

Why she’s here: Henderson was a consistent source of power for the Lady Rockets at first base. She swatted 11 doubles, nine triples and two home runs and boasted a .452 average. Henderson tallied 36 RBIs during Neshoba Central’s state championship run and landed on the Region 3-5A team.

 

 

 

 

Jada McDougle

Infield

Sophomore

Newton County

Why she’s here: McDougle accumulated 54 hits for the Lady Cougars and finished the season with a .454 batting average. As Newton County’s lead-off batter, she tallied 30 RBIs and bashed five home runs, with a few being of the inside-the-park variety. Her blazing speed resulted in 32 stolen bases.

 

 

 

 

 

Rivers Gray

Outfield

Junior

Neshoba Central 

Why she’s here: Gray’s hot bat never cooled off during the season, and she ended the year with as .491 batting average. Batting in the No. 2 spot this season, she tallied 42 RBIs to go along with 14 doubles, three triples and one home run. A member of the Lady Rockets 5A state championship team, Gray will represent the North in the 2018 Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Game.

  

 

 

Makayla Roberts

Outfield

Senior

Clarkdale 

Why she’s here: Roberts played in the outfield and pitched for the Lady Bulldogs this year. The East Central Community College commit ended the season with a .505 batting average, a .574 on-base percentage and a .747 slugging percentage. She was named to the Region 5-2A team in each of her four years, and she was selected Miss CHS softball. 

 

 

 

 

Tia’Rain Saunders

Outfield

Sophomore

Choctaw Central 

Why she’s here: Saunders was named Region 5-3A’s Most Valuable Player and also garnered a first-team selection. She batted .468 and bashed three home runs and seven triples. Choctaw Central reached the MHSAA Class 3A South State championship series before falling to Raleigh.