It’s out with the old and maybe in with the new at schools that fielded slow pitch softball teams.
There will no longer be 10-girl softball in Mississippi with the decision by the MHSAA to discontinue slow pitch as a fall sport for girls. Winona, French Camp, Ethel and Louisville are among the dwindling number of Mississippi schools that still had slow pitch teams this year.
Louisville is one of a small number of schools that had both slow pitch and volleyball for girls in the fall. For Winona, French Camp and Ethel there is the possibility of replacing slow pitch with volleyball.
Winona athletic director Charlie Parkerson said there will be a survey of interest among girls at the schools. “We’re going to throw it out there to see what our female athletes are most interested in and we’re going to have something in place by Christmas.”
Parkerson was not surprised by the decision to eliminate slow pitch. “I’ve been in this business for 26 years and for 26 years they have been talking about doing this.”
He added “I’m a little disappointed. We have a lot of girls who take advantage of slow pitch softball.”
French Camp athletic director Rusty McKnight said “We are discussing slow pitch being cut by MHSAA and what we will do next fall, but have not made a decision yet.” He said adding volleyball is a consideration.”
Louisville coach Ron Swart, was not surprised by the decision to discontinue slow pitch. “I knew it was coming. They had been talking about it for years. It’s what it is. Basically the reason they kept it was because some of the bigger schools that played it wanted it kept.”
Swart, who also coaches fast pitch in the spring, said playing slow pitch helped fast pitch players. “It was definitely good. It gave us some time working on fielding and throwing.”
Ethel slow pitch coach Chris Schuster was blunt in expressing his disappointment. “I think it stinks. For one thing, my daughter plays it and I enjoy coaching her. I know she enjoys it.”
He added “We have been successful in slow pitch. We have had a lot of good years.”
Schuster, who coaches baseball in the spring, expects volleyball to replace slow pitch at Ethel.
The decision to discontinue slow pitch was made by the MHSAA Executive Committee comprised of 15 school administrators from throughout the state.
Approximately 75 of the MHSAA’s 248 high schools competed in slow-pitch this year, down significantly from more than 160 six years ago. Many of the schools that dropped slow pitch have added volleyball.
“Fast-pitch softball has continued to grow and has become one of our largest sports in terms of participation for our schools,” said 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.”
Neshoba Central has been synonymous with softball success in Mississippi, both fast and slow pitch. The Lady Rockets won an eighth straight slow pitch state title this year and are the seven-time defending 5A champion in fast pitch.
“With the success we have had and the amount of students who are still participating, I’m disappointed,” said Neshoba Central coach Trae Embry. “But we don’t have any control over that so we have to take the decision in stride and move on.”
Embry feels playing slow pitch helps prepare players for fast pitch. “I think it really helps my young kids get prepared for the fast pitch season. It helps us overall on defense.”
