Lady Patriots ready to defend state title

Marshall Academy softball is looking to keep the train rolling on the championship track in 2025.

The Lady Patriots will be seeking their fourth straight state title. Head coach Jamie Rappa, entering his second season at the helm of the tradition-rich program, has high hopes of his team claiming yet another top trophy this season. He returns seven starters.

“We should be in the mix again,” he said. “With reclassification, we will face some new challenges along the way, but this group is experienced.”

Starters back for the new campaign include five seniors, catcher Charlie Johnson, pitcher Eliza Cavender, first baseman Gracie Rappa, outfielder Luci Tomlinson and outfielder Aurora Cervantes, plus two sophomores, second baseman Aubrey Brigance and shortstop/pitcher Kyleigh Milliorn.

“The seniors have played a part in all three state championships,” said Rappa, who assisted long-time head coach Carlton Gibson in the 2022 and 2023 state-title runs.

Pitching depth will be a big plus in the new season with Eliza Cavender, Milliorn, and two eighth graders, Kendall Matthews and Esme Cavender.

“We will have more pitching this year than we’ve had in the previous three years,” Rappa said. “We played those seasons with three pitchers.”

The offense is also lining up to be solid in 2025.

“We should be stronger hitting, team-wise, too,” he said. “We should be more consistent from the top to the bottom of the line-up.”

Defensively, two key players from last year, centerfielder Landry Loper and third baseman Ava Ables graduated.

“It will be hard to fill those two spots,” Rappa said, “but I feel like we will have some younger kids step up.”

The schedule, as usual, is tough. The Lady Patriots will compete in District 1-3A with Kirk Academy, Lee Academy, North Delta School and West Memphis Christian School.

The Mid-South Association of Independent Schools features only four classes this school year, which pushes some quality teams into the new 3A.

MA played in a jamboree this past weekend at Northwest Community College. The first regular season contest is Monday, July 28, at DeSoto School. Next will come tournaments at Copiah and TriCounty. The first home game is Monday, Aug. 18, versus Kirk. The Lady Patriots will also play in tournaments at Brookhaven and Parklane, plus go against Magnolia Heights in a home-and-away series.

“The only way to get better is to play the best teams,” Rappa said. “We go down south and play in those tournaments because we get to face some of the best.”

Rappa will be assisted by coach Jordan Wheeler, coach Bart Jenkins and coach Ryan Ashby.