By STAN CALDWELL/Sports Writer

HATTIESBURG — When East Central began its softball season in February, not many people expected the Hornets to make a return trip to Southern Miss for the State Championships.

After all, EC lost the heart of its 26-7 team that advanced to the Class 5A finals last season, falling to Corinth in a two-game sweep. Five players who started every game last year graduated, leaving head coach Gerald Edmonson with bit of a rebuilding project.

But the Hornets defied the odds and finally broke through after years of disappointment in the postseason, sweeping past Lafayette 10-3 Tuesday and 10-2 Wednesday to capture the 5A state championship.

“We lost so many great players from last year who are playing at the next level,” said Edmonson. “So there weren’t too many people outside our locker room that thought we even had a chance to come back here.”

The Hornets did it, though, going undefeated in Region 4-5A at 10-0 to win the region title. EC swept Brookhaven in the opening round of the 5A playoffs, but then needed three games to get past North Pike and archrival Vancleave to make it back to USM.

Once they got there, the Hornets unloaded on the Commodores, using the big inning to put up 20 runs on 22 hits. EC scored four runs in the top of the first inning of Game 1, then added a five-run rally in the fourth to break open the series opener.

On Wednesday, East Central overcame a 5-3 deficit with a six-run outburst, also in the fourth, to take command in the clincher.

“We try to have a good offensive approach at the plate, try to be really confident the whole game,” said junior Abigail Danis, who capped the offensive assault in Game 2 with a three-run bomb in the fourth inning Wednesday.

“At first, our bats weren’t very strong, but we started hitting the ball really well. I’m very proud of this team.”

East Central was one of the powers fast-pitch during the 2000s, winning six state championships.

But beginning in 2010, the Hornets had some great teams, but never could get over the hump, losing twice in the South State finals and three times in the finals to Neshoba Central, one of nine straight titles the Rockets won between 2013 and 2022.

EC brought teams to USM in 2021 and 2022, only to lose to Neshoba, then lost to George County in the South State finals in 2023.

“We’ve been here four of the past five years, and we can’t seem to get over that hump,” said Edmonson. “So I told my assistant coaches and my wife that they were about to see the most laid-back they’ve ever seen me.

“I think sometimes we’ve gotten in these situations and tried to over-coach, and maybe tried to do too much. We’re here for a reason, and that reason is these young ladies really good at ball. So I just told them to have fun.”

That approach was unusual for Edmonson, who admitted he sometimes lets his emotions get the better of him.

“I’ll be honest, I’m kind of one that my emotions can be right here on my sleeve,” said Edmonson. “Sometimes, I get hyped up, and try to over-coach, instead of letting these girls who’ve been playing the game their whole lives, and are really good at it to just do it.”

What the Hornets did return from last year were all three of their pitchers, Danis, junior Breyona Tanner and senior Abbie Huff.

Series MVP Danis got the victory in Game 1, and Tanner got the win in the second game, with Danis coming in to pitch the last three innings, after the Hornets took a 9-5 lead.

“She came in and shut the door,” said Edmonson of Danis. “And what’s crazy is she’s my No. 2. My No. 1 (Tanner) pitched Monday, so I went with my 2, and she was spinning it. Her spin was really good against them.

“Breyona came to me in the fourth inning and said her spin wasn’t there and she didn’t have her normal stuff. She said that if we tie or go ahead, Abbie D.’s got this. That’s a senior leader, and she knew that was what the team needed.”

While Tanner departs after a great career, Danis will be back for next season, when East Central will have the big target on its back.

“(The MVP) couldn’t have happened to a better individual,” said Edmonson. “I know a lot of people say that, and it’s kind of a cliché, but it’s the truth.

“She’s so meek and mild. She’s so shy, but there isn’t a single soul on this team that wouldn’t do anything for her. She is the nucleus of our team.”

So, after so many crushing disappointments, this senior class can leave Hurley knowing they restored a championship-caliber program to the highest level.

“Yes, we came up short quite a few times, but this year, it was just me and my girls,” said senior Chloe Sheppard. “We did it all for us, not for the past. We had doubts along the way, but we stayed together and got the job done.”