December 2024 – Marley Mitchel, Brandon, MS

Congrats to Marley Mitchell from Brandon, MS!

December Contest Question

It is here…the last inning of the year! 

What was the most inspiring, amazing, unforgettable baseball story of 2024? It may be among the pros, college, high school, rec, or even in your backyard. Tell us the story, and share why it’s the best story of the year for YOU. Good luck!

Winning Answer

Hello Nokona. I am an 11-year-old girl who loves softball. When most people think of Nokona, they think of baseball. But when I think of Nokona, I think of softball. 

As 2024 comes to a close, I think back on all of the great memories I had this year in the sport that I love. The best moment of 2024 was watching my school win back-to-back 7A state Championships. 

Northwest Rankin isn’t the largest school in Mississippi. It is a public county school surrounded by private schools on the outskirts of Jackson, MS. It is the school my parents attended, and the school I will attend in a few years after I finish middle school. 2024 saw NWR win back-to-back state championships in the bottom of the 7th with a walkoff triple hit by my sister, Hannah Sullivan. NWR went undefeated all season 34-0. They finished the season ranked #1 in the nation in USA Today. 

The excitement and hope I felt watching the Lady Cougars close their season, is the same feeling I get when I think of Nokona. Like the 2024 NWR girls’ win, Nokona represents the potential in all of us to move mountains and overcome obstacles…the promise that the future is bright if you put in the work required….even for little girls from small towns in Mississippi.