Louisville’s slow pitch-softball players can thank a change of regions for possibly saving the sport.
The school was in Class II, Region 4 last year, with most of the region’s other teams in extreme North Mississippi, resulting bus rides of more than an hour. “We had thought about dropping it (slow pitch) because of travel. Every trip was at least an hour.” said Ron Swart, head coach for Louisville’s slow-pitch and fast-pitch teams.
“After last year, I talked with our athletic director and principal about not playing slow-pitch again because it was too much travel. Then we were moved into a new district.”
The Mississippi High School Activities Association conducted its biennial reclassification of regions, complicated by the fact that about 20 schools dropped slow-pitch this year, resulting in a decrease from three to two classes.
Louisville was placed in Region 3 of Class II (4A, 5A and 6A schools) with schools that are closer. Other teams in the region are Caledonia, Columbus, Leake Central, New Hope and Starkville.
“When we were moved into the new district we decided to keep it because there are not bad trips,” Swart said. “As long as they keep us in that district we will probably continue to play.”
The question is how much longer will slow-pitch be a MHSAA sport. The number of Mississippi schools fielding teams continues to dwindle, to the point that the future of slow pitch is in doubt. The number of schools fielding a team has been reduced to 89, a little more than one-third of the MHSAA membership.
The reclassification of regions is for two years, but there is no guarantee that the sport will even last that long,
“We will reassess this at the end of the slow-pitch season as we do every season,” said Ricky Neaves, MHSAA associate director for athletics, “If the numbers continue to dwindle as they have it might not be feasible for the '20-21 season.”
Most of the girls who play slow pitch for Louisville also play fast-pitch in the spring. Swart said slow-pitch can help players prepare for fast-pitch with infield and outfield play
“Our biggest weakness is that we do not have a lot of power, Swart said. “We’re built more for fast-pitch with our speed.”
Top players for both slow-pitch and fast pitch include outfielder Jimaia Jackson, shortstop Erica Murry and Gabby Cistrunk. “She plays wherever I need her,” Swart said of Cistrunk.
Jackson will be a senior, Murry a junior and Cistrunk a sophomore.
Many of the schools that dropped slow-pitch have replaced it with volleyball as a fall sport for girls. However, Louisville is one of 18 MHSAA schools that field teams in both sports.
Neaves pointed out that a reason for schools dropping the sport is because there is no slow-pitch at colleges or junior colleges. “There is no next level and no scholarships offered.”
