Multi-sport standout Hope Thames of Nanih Waiya had a host of options to continue her playing career. On Monday, she made it official, signing to play softball next season at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.
Thames, who batted leadoff for the Lady Warriors while playing a host of positions including center field and pitcher, batted .537 this season and helped the Lady Warriors to the second round of the MHSAA Class 1A state playoffs.
“Hope is an outstanding young lady with a talent for the game of softball,” Nanih Waiya softball coach Cody Parkes said. “We are extremely proud of her and glad she’s going to get a chance to continue playing.”
Thames was the region’s Most Valuable Player in basketball this past season prior to her stellar softball campaign.
A member of the Lady Warriors’ softball team since the eighth grade, she started the last four seasons and maintained a batting average of .400 or better.
“She’s been a part of the program for a long time and her bat has continued to be hot,” Parkes said.
On the basketball court, Thames averaged 16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game – all team-highs for coach Jason Morgan’s Lady Warriors.
