Pensacola area softball stars who shaped the sport

Softball has been an emerging sport in the Pensacola area in recent years, and is the next sport on our list of USA TODAY’s companywide 250 for 250 series.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states and regions. 

Over the next coming months, we'll honor some of the top athletes in Pensacola area history.  

Escambia and Santa Rosa County local softball teams have won five state championships, all coming in the last two decades. Pace was the first area team to win a state crown in 2007, followed by West Florida in 2014 and Tate in 2015. Jay captured an elusive state crown in 2022, while Pace became the first area softball team to win multiple state titles in 2024.

The Patriots have the last two softball Gatorade Players of the Year in Jayden Heavener and Hannah DeMarcus.

The eight softball selections represent some of the area’s best players from the past and in recent years, as well as two state championship winning coaches. All nominees are in alphabetical order.

Think we missed anyone? Email JFitzgerald@gannett.com to let us know who should have been included.

Hannah DeMarcus, Pace

DeMarcus is still a high school junior, but has already had one of the most decorated careers in area history.

She was named Florida Gatorade Player of the Year and Prep Softball National Player of the Year as a sophomore after going 23-3 with a 0.32 ERA and 418 strikeouts in 175 innings pitched while leading the Patriots to a 6A state runner-up finish. She also threw nine no-hitters, including two perfect games.

This spring DeMarcus is 19-2 with a 0.94 ERA and 300 strikeouts and five no-hitters in 141 2/3 innings pitched, The Patriots are making their sixth straight Final Four appearance and will Parrish Community in the 6A state semifinals on May 22.

Misty Haynes, Escambia

Haynes was named 1989 Northwest Florida High School Player of the Year before a record setting career at UWF from 1990-94. She played left field and was a three-time NAIA All-American, set 27 school records and helped the Argos win the 1993 NAIA National Championship. Haynes was elected to the UWF Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.

Jayden Heavener, Pace

A two-way star for the Patriots from 2021-24, Heavener went 70-9 with a 0.67 ERA and 1,174 strikeouts and batted .404 with 31 home runs and 121 RBIs in her varsity career.

She won MaxPreps National Player of the Year and Florida Gatorade Player of the Year during her senior season, which culminated in the Patriots first state championship since 2007. She threw a two-hit shutout, struck out 16 and hit a two-run home run in Pace’s 2-0 win over Bartow in the 6A state championship.

Heavener is currently a sophomore at LSU, where she’s 26-13 with a 2.72 ERA through two seasons and was named a D1 Softball Freshman All-American in 2025. The Tigers will play Alabama in the NCAA Super Regionals May 23-24.

Tori Perkins, Tate

Perkins helped lead Tate to the 2015 7A state championship as a senior, going 19-3 with an 0.82 ERA and 214 strikeouts and batting .379 with 37 RBIs. She was the Florida Dairy Farmers 7A Player of the Year in 2015.

She played at UAB from 2016-17 and UWF from 2018-19, helping the Argos to the Division II National Championship bracket.

Korina Rosario, West Florida

Rosario helped lead the Jaguars to their only team state title in school history in 2014. She went 28-1 with a 0.19 ERA and 323 strikeouts, batted .564 with four home runs and 41 RBIs and was named Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Softball, which goes to the top player in the state.

She then played at Florida State from 2015-18 mainly as an outfielder and pinch runner, helping the Seminoles win their first national championship in 2018.

Brian Watson, Jay

Watson has set a standard for in his more than two decades with Royals. Jay’s made 17 state playoff appearances during his tenure, winning the 2022 1A state championship, finishing runner-up three times and advancing to four Final Fours.

Melinda Wyatt, Tate

Wyatt recently retired after 22 seasons as the Aggies head coach. Tate won eight district champinships, went to the state playoffs 11 times, advancing to the 7A Final Four in 2014 and winning the 7A state title in 2015.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola area's all-time top high school softball players and coaches