SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

May 28, 2026

Graduation Day (a series): East Central’s Danis made a name for herself on the softball diamond

East Central senior standout Abby Danis will leave a major void in the Lady Hornets softball program. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

(Editors Note: This is the third of a five part series on standout student/athletes in the “Southern Six” that recently completed their careers and graduated.)

HURLEY — Even though her senior season ended a bit sooner than she had hoped, East Central senior softball standout Abby Danis definitely left her mark on the Lady Hornet program during what was a stellar career.

The versatile Danis helped guide East Central to 58 wins over the past two seasons, including the Class 5A state title in 2025.

East Central pitcher Abby Danis takes aim on home plate vs. Sumrall in the recent Class 5A South State championship series. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

East Central batter Abby Danis fouls off a pitch vs. Sumrall in the recent Class 5A South State championship series. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Danis was a force both in the circle and at the plate, making a name for herself as one of the top pitchers and hitters as well during her time with the Lady Hornets.

She earned 29 total wins over the past two seasons with the ball in her hands, including going a career best 16-4 this season when she also struck out 124 opposing batters and registered a miniscule 1.81 earned run average.

Offensively this season, Danis hit .380 with four home runs, nine doubles and 34 runs batted in.

East Central senior standout Abby Danis will leave a major void in the Lady Hornets softball program. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

“Abby had an amazing career,” Vancleave head coach Kyle Long, who faced Danis quite a few times over the past several seasons, said. “Not only was she a great high school softball player, but she is an even better person. We faced her seven times in the last two years and as a pitcher and hitter she made it really hard on us. Ninety percent of the time when she took a swing the ball was coming off her bat hard. She’s a good example of what high school softball and sports should be, playing with kids you grew up with in small towns and winning a state championship.”

This season, East Central finished a solid 28-6 overall, including going unbeaten in Region 4-5A at 10-0 and winning the league crown, but fell in the Class 5A South State championship series to eventual state champ Sumrall.

East Central base runner Abby Danis lands on first base as the throw arrives vs. Sumrall in the recent Class 5A South State championship series. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

As a junior, Danis was a driving force as the Lady Hornets rolled to a 30-7 overall mark and captured the state title. That season, as ECHS captured its first fast-pitch softball state championship in 16 years, she hit a sparkling .434 and drove in 26 runs.

She also earned 13 pitching wins with 1.21 ERA. The Lady Hornets toppled Long’s Lady Bulldogs in the Class 5A South State title match-up,