Few stat lines in the Houston area this softball season matched what Stevie South put together for Magnolia. The senior catcher and first baseman hit .620 with 23 home runs, posted a .700 on-base percentage, stole more than 20 bases, and led the Bulldogs in doubles, triples, and virtually every other offensive category — all while playing near-flawless defense behind the plate.
That production earned South the District 15-6A Most Valuable Player award and the Parker University MVP honor from HOU Inside High School Sports. She received a custom bobblehead in recognition of her season.
South described the power numbers as a product of discipline rather than aggression. Opposing pitchers rarely gave her anything to hit, and she drew walks at a high rate. When a mistake pitch did come, she made sure to punish it. "I might not get another one that entire game," she said.
Beyond the bat, South took seriously her role as the anchor of Magnolia's battery. With a freshman pitcher in the rotation, the senior leaned on her experience to keep the staff composed. "Just me being a senior and knowing how to help her out, how to calm her down — that's really important to me," she said.
South will take her game to Austin, where she has signed with the University of Texas. She cited the Longhorns' combination of academic prestige and elite softball program as the deciding factors, along with a coaching staff that made the campus feel like home from the start of the recruiting process.
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