Booneville, MS – After an emphatic run in the Region 23 Tournament a week ago with the Tigers advancing to the Poplarville regional championship game against Pearl River, Northeast earned more honors this Wednesday with Kendall Bragg and Sophie Gant each earning All-MACCC honors as announced by the conference on May 13th.
Freshman outfielder Kendall Bragg was named to the All-MACCC first team after a dominant first year in the collegiate ranks with Bragg earning both MACCC player of the week and NJCAA player of the week honors on April 1st. She recorded a batting average of .444 on the season with 67 hits, 50 runs, 16 doubles, 2 triples, 9 homers, and 48 RBI through 57 games in the 2026 campaign. Her national player of the week honor came after a week that saw her hit at least one home run in six of eight games with four games straight of hitting a bomb out of the park including two homers against Coahoma with four RBI and three runs. Bragg came up big against #6 Jones in the Region 23 Tournament, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate including a double that helped drive in three runs in an 8-2 win.
"Kendall's March and April were impressive; the numbers she put up in the MACCC games were very impressive and shows when she was able to get settled in and become comfortable in the expectation of herself and our staff. We are hopeful that this isn't the only award Kendall gets for her success in 2026." – Head Coach Jody Long.
Sophomore pitcher Sophie Gant was named to the All-MACCC second team after a career year in the circle and at the plate for the Tigers. She made 18 starts in 27 appearances in the circle with 16 wins and 1 save, pitching in 132.2 innings and striking out 74 batters. At the plate she recorded a batting average of .384 with an on base percentage of .488 with 61 hits, 44 runs, 18 doubles, 2 triples, 8 home runs, and 65 RBI to set a new single season RBI record for Northeast. Two of her best performances at the plate both came against Jones with a 3-for-4 performance where she hammered out to bombs for five RBI in the regular season while also connecting on a grand-slam in the Region 23 Tournament to eliminate the Bobcats. As a pitcher she struck out four or more batters in ten games including 7 against Mississippi Delta where she led the Tigers to an 8-2 win, pitching in all seven innings and allowed only two hits.
"Sophie had success on the mound and at the plate this season for us. She was asked to change her role this season after being our starting first baseman last year. This season she was forced into anchoring our pitching staff and did an outstanding job for us while battling injury throughout the year" – Head Coach Jody Long.
"Offensively she set records at Northeast while connecting on big hits and driving in timely runs. Sophie was a leader who would make sure the bus was clean, unloaded, and assisted in making sure all the little things were done to help her have success in all phases of the game. She will be the 1st person to credit her teammates to her success and accolades. She will have success at Montevallo next year as a dual player for their system."
Northeast finished the 2026 season with an overall record of 41-16 and a MACCC record of 15-13. The Tigers started the season 13-0 to climb up the NJCAA national rankings to place as high as #19 in the season while staying in the top twenty all year long. In the Region 23 Tournament Northeast grabbed a 9-1 win over #18 Meridian in the play-in game to survive and advance while also eliminating #13 Itawamba 11-8 and #6 Jones 8-2 to advance to the Poplarville regional championship game to end their season.