Silliman aims for softball crown

MAIS Overall Fastpitch tourney begins Saturday

It’s come down to one final tournament for the Silliman Institute softball team. The Wildcats enter the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Overall Fastpitch Tournament as one of the top seeds.

“We feel good about where we are right now,” Silliman coach Trae Weaver said. “Our girls have worked hard all year, and we had a good week of practice.

“They’re ready to play. Last weekend, we hit the ball as well as we have in a long time, and I hope that continues.”

Action begins Saturday at Liberty Park in Flowood, Miss. Silliman (39-2) is one of two No. 1 seeds in Class 2A. Overall titles for three MAIS classes will be decided at the tourney, which concludes Monday.

Silliman faces Prairie View Academy at 10:45 a.m. Saturday. A win would put the Wildcats in another elimination game at 4 p.m.

The semifinals and final games are set for Monday.

Weaver’s team won the 2A South State title last week and is the No. 1 seed for the South MAIS. Leake Academy is the No. 1 seed in the North bracket and has won the overall title the last two years.

Silliman outscored its opponents 44-0 en route to winning its third straight South State title last week, including a 10-0 win over Silva Bay in the final game.

Pitcher Kayla Davidson was 4-0 last weekend for the Wildcats with 34 strikeouts. She allowed only four hits. Bradleigh Brignac, Taylor LeBlanc, Kaitlyn Weaver and Bekah Norris joined Davidson on the all-tournament team.

Brignac hit .800 during the South State tourney with seven runs batted in, while LeBlanc batted .545 with nine runs scored. Weaver (.500), Norris (.444) and Ashley Hurst (four RBIs) were among the other leaders for Silliman.