Lady Cougars Rewrite History: CA’s First Softball State Championship

October 11, 2025

Writer: Anna Marie

The Columbia Academy softball history books have been rewritten to now say “State Champions.” This 2025-2026 Lady Cougar Softball team had already set a softball record with being South State Champions just last week, but the Lady Cougars weren’t ready to put the pen down just yet. On a sun splashed Saturday afternoon in Flora, Mississippi, the Lady Cougars finally brought to fruition what decades of Columbia Academy softball players had been trying to achieve. Hoisting the coveted blue trophy into the air, the final chapter of the 2025-2026 softball season was now complete. 

Kyle Wilks, in his seventh year as head coach, spoke about the amount of effort his team put in this season to make this historical moment happen. “It’s been a grind, but this is a good group of girls,” stated Wilks as he stood in the midst of the orange and blue confetti. “Columbia Academy has had some good softball for a long time… but to be able to win South State for the first time ever and then to follow that up with the first championship in softball is special.” 

Molly Sistrunk, senior designated player for the Lady Cougars, had nothing but praises for her coaches when reflecting on this season. “They’re good about encouraging but getting honest with us when we need it,” recalled Sistrunk. “They always push us to be better, put it all out there, and leave it on the field.” 

Going into game two of the best of three series, the Lady Cougars led the series with the win at home on Wednesday. Game two was played on the home field of the Lady Rebels of Tri-County Academy on Saturday. 

The first inning started off shaky for the Lady Cougars as Taylor Berard drew the walk but got caught stealing second. Lola Todd hit a blooper to right field to get on base, only to run into the double play when the Lady Rebel shortstop snagged the hard hit ball of Kate Fortenberry.  

Bottom of the first inning started out great for the Lady Cougars with pitcher Lola Todd getting two strike outs but the Lady Rebels went on a two out rally, scoring 3 runs before the Lady Cougars could get out of the inning. 

The Lady Cougars found their swing in the top of the third inning with Brooklyn Ladd, Taylor Berard, Lola Todd, Kate Fortenberry, and Macey Branch all getting base hits. Carlee Pounds and Macie Wilks both drew the walk, resulting in 4 runners crossing home plate. 

It was solid defense the rest of the game as the Lady Cougars never saw more than 4 batters in an inning. Macey Branch came in as the relief pitcher, only allowing one hit and one walk. 

The final score was 4-3. 

Sporting her knee brace and beaming with joy, senior Maggie Smith described the moment the final out was made. “Taylor got the last out at South State too so I had all the confidence in the world in her,” stated Smith. “I had no doubt she was going to make it. I was hopping out of the dugout even before that last out was called.”

Fellow senior Harley Herring still had the stains from the tears of joy on her face as she described what being a part of this championship team meant to her. “I feel like a big sister to all of them and seeing them work so hard and give it their all, really just makes me so happy.”

That final out truly was a beautiful moment. 

Cheers, hugs, and high fives rippled through the dugout, the stands, and along the fence where Lady Cougar softball fans had gathered. The special moment when one player ran by herself straight to her dad, before the families were allowed on the field, and wrapped him in a hug so big that you could just feel how much this win meant to the both of them. 

These are the moments every high school athlete dreams of and for the first time in Columbia Academy softball history, this moment belonged to the Lady Cougars.