Simmons is a key piece to South Pem's SB potential in 2025

South Pemiscot then-sophomore Phoenix Simmons connects with a pitch against Holcomb during the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 softball tournament championship game at Holcomb this past season.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

There is no shortage of positive reasons why the South Pemiscot High School softball team won’t be difficult to deal with next spring, and the return of junior-to-be Phoenix Simmons is as critical of those reasons as any.

“Phoenix knows softball,” third-year Bulldog coach Lance Crawford said this season of Simmons. “She has played a lot growing up.”

That experience showed on the field, as well as at the plate this spring, as Simmons helped South Pemiscot to 13 wins, which was the most that anyone around the program could recall.

“She hits the ball,” Crawford said of Simmons. “She is one of our leaders”

The Bulldogs utilized heavily just one senior this spring, Abigail Edwards, and she and Simmons had a combined six strikeouts this spring, three or four of which Crawford said were due to some dubious officiating.

“Phoenix gets it in play,” Crawford said of her offensive ability. “She does. She can hit.”

The Bulldogs played MSHSAA Class 1 third-place finisher Holcomb fierce twice in the final weeks of the spring.

South Pemiscot fell 4-3 in late April and 10-9, after leading 9-6 in the seventh inning, in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 championship game. In those two games, Simmons had a double, scored three times, drove in a run, walked three times, and stole a base.

Crawford said that Simmons not only makes contact with pitches, but she also has the strength to drive the ball out of the park.

In District play against Risco, she belted out a home run and connected for a double.

Simmons closed the regular season with a pair of doubles against Caruthersville.

“She can get it out of there,” Crawford said of Simmons’ power.

Simmons’ athletic ability allowed Crawford to utilize her in a variety of defensive roles.

She not only was the Bulldogs’ number two pitcher (number one heading into next season) but also played shortstop and center field for Crawford.

“We’ve come a long way this season,” Crawford said of his team’s success this spring. “The girls have worked hard.

“I know Holcomb practices hard and works hard, but I challenge that anybody was out there more, and that shows over time.”