A pair of Lady Whippet softball seniors garnered state-wide recognition when Maddy Gilmore and Katie Mitchell were honored with all-state selections by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, the state's largest newspaper.
Gilmore was named a first-team all-state selection as a pitcher, while Mitchell was named a second-team all-state selection as an infielder.
Gilmore finished the year with a 13-0 record from the mound to help the Lady Whippets reach the South State championship series. She compiled a 0.57 earned-run average, tallied 85 strikeouts and tossed six shutouts.
Offensively, Gilmore collected 24 RBIs behind a .425 batting average.
“I’m really proud of her,” Terry said. “She’s been a starter for six years – she’s been a starter since the seventh grade as a designated hitter. Over the years, she’s pitched a lot for us. She had a really special year last year with us winning the state championship.”
Mitchell notched a team-high 90 strikeouts and ended the season with a 0.64 earned-run average. She tallied six shutouts and pitched 10 complete games. Mitchell has signed to play softball at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
“She’s been a five-year starter at various positions and then pitching,” Terry said. “On the mound, with her and Maddy both, one of the strong points of the team. It’s hard for me to just talk about one of them because they both do the same. Both of them have been a big part of why we’ve been so successful the last two years.”
Kosciusko went 31-3 this season and fell one series shy of defending its MHSAA 4A state crown. Gilmore and Mitchell spearheaded a pitching rotation that allowed just 51 runs (1.5 per contest). The Lady Whippets went 17-2 in home contests.
“We’ll definitely be a different team without them,” he said. “We’re going to miss them. You have people who contribute as long as both of them have, and I think this is a good reward at the end of great careers. The state-wide recognition is something I’ve known for a long time.”
Beyond their efforts on the diamond, Gilmore and Mitchell achieved stellar results in the classroom. Both players will graduate in the top six of their class in grade-point average.
“They’re just all-around great kids,” Terry said. “They’re everything you want a player to be.”
