High School Softball Round Up
By: Shelia Mader
With a break in the action over 2026 spring break, four Jackson County varsity softball teams were ready to hit the diamond last week. There were wins and losses, stolen bases and a standout performance in Cottondale. Annelise Skipper added a PERFECT GAME to her resume in a 3-0 shutout over Chipley.
Cottondale 3, Chipley 0 (Apr. 2)
Cottondale’s Annelise Skipper delivered a perfect game, retiring all 21 batters she faced to lead the Lady Hornets past Chipley, 3‑0. Skipper struck out nine without yielding a hit or a walk in a dominant seven‑inning performance.
At the plate, Cassie Dawson and Skipper each doubled, while Halle Riley added two hits and a stolen base. Karmen Benefield and Anna Speers also chipped in a hit apiece as Cottondale collected eight total hits. The Hornets plated two runs in the fourth and added one more late to secure the win.
Malone 19, Graceville 13 (Mar. 30)
The Lady Tigers of Malone outslugged Graceville in a high‑scoring 19‑13 victory. Aaliyah Dickens went the distance in the circle for the win, striking out seven over seven innings. Dickens also tripled and reached base multiple times to help her own cause.
Caylee Perry homered and doubled, driving in three runs, while Tori Shelton added a home run and a team‑high seven RBIs. Hunter Josey scored three times and stole two bases, and Aubree Wesley contributed a pair of hits and two runs scored.
Graceville’s offense kept pace early, led by Jay Evans’ three‑hit effort that included a double and a triple, plus home runs from M. Strickland and M. McCloskey. K. Strickland scored twice and tallied both a hit and an RBI in the loss.
Malone 16, Daleville 1 (Apr. 2)
Malone followed up with another strong outing, routing Daleville 16‑1 in three innings. Dickens again starred, doubling twice and striking out four in two innings of one‑hit ball. Aubree Wesley, Hunter Josey, and Brianna Newton each added key RBIs, while Josey swiped three bases to lead a 10‑steal effort.
The Tigers capitalized on seven Daleville errors and drew eight walks, sealing the early‑ending win.
Marianna 12, Leon 9 (Mar. 30)
Marianna’s bats powered the Lady Bulldogs past Leon 12‑9 in a back‑and‑forth road win. Hope Tanner earned the victory, going seven innings with five strikeouts while allowing six earned runs.
Murphy Mitchell sparked Marianna’s offense with a standout performance, reaching base repeatedly and stealing five bases while scoring four runs. Khloe Wilkes, Alannah Henderson, and Tanner each drove in a run, and Shauna McCardle added three RBIs despite not recording a hit. Marianna totaled six hits on the night and took advantage of Leon’s eight defensive errors to push across runs in four consecutive frames.