By Robert Wilson
East Rankin Academy’s Abigail Stevens played like Mississippi’s version of Major League Baseball’s two-way star Shohei Ohtani Saturday in the 2023 softball season opening tournament hosted by Jones County Junior College in Laurel.
The 6-foot-2 Stevens, a senior pitcher-shortstop-first baseman and a Mississippi State commitment, threw a no-hitter and hit a home run to lead East Rankin to a 4-0 victory over defending MAIS Class 5A state champion Brookhaven Academy.
Ohtani, who plays for the California Angels and is considered the best MLB two-way player since Babe Ruth 100 years ago, made news earlier this week when he threw a one-hitter in the first game and hit two home runs in the second game of a double header.
Stevens did her heroics in the same game. She led off the game with a home run in the top of the first inning and then didn’t allow a hit and had 13 strikeouts in the five-inning game. Stevens allowed only two baserunners on a walk to the first batter of the game in the first inning and East Rankin made an error in the third inning. Only two of the outs were not strikeouts.
“Abigail was outstanding,” East Rankin coach Matt Warren said. “Every pitch was working, moving, and zooming, not to mention she also led the game off with a homer. She’s really the key to our success. It’s unbelievable to watch someone like her play. Abigail is the best player I’ve coached, played with or played against. I always say she reminds me of JT Ginn that I played with. He was drafted out of Brandon High in the first round but turned it down to go to Mississippi State. I feel if there was a softball draft like baseball, Abigail would certainly get a look.
“Abigail is special because she can do it all, pitch, hit, run, throw, everything she does is great. I think what an underrated aspect of Abigail’s game is how good of a teammate she is. She’s always teaching, learning, and improving. Abigail adapts to her environment. Nothing will ever phase her, she’s calm, cool and collected always.”
Performing at a high level isn’t anything new for Stevens. She has been a starting at East Rankin since she was an eighth grader.
Stevens – considered one of the best players in Mississippi – had an 8-2 record with 3 saves with an 0.39 earned run average and 156 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings and hit .443 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, 35 runs batted in last season as a junior. East Rankin finished with a 23-8 record and reached the 5A state semifinals, losing to Brookhaven Academy and Oak Forest, La., Academy.
Stevens threw a no-hitter even without her regular catcher behind the plate. Starting catcher Addie Grace Weaver is out with an injury and freshman third baseman Krissi Simmons caught Stevens’ no-hitter Saturday.
East Rankin, 2-1, play Monday at Parklane Academy in Summit.
“It’s definitely important to get off to a good start because it really jumpstarts the rest of your season,” Warren said. “Beating the defending 5A state champs will give us so much confidence for the rest of the season. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this weekend, but I am pleased with what I saw. It wasn’t perfect, but definitely a good weekend to build on.”
Stevens is also an outstanding basketball player. She made the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson girls basketball team as a sophomore. Stevens had highs of 30 points and 20 rebounds and was one of three sophomores on the 20-player team. She decided not to play basketball last season and concentrate on softball. Stevens also plays on the Tennessee Mojo travel softball team.
