‘She made history’: Mia Davidson signs off for Mississippi State softball after phenomenal career – The Dispatch

STARKVILLE — Throughout the prolonged backside of the fourth inning of Saturday’s softball Tremendous Regional sport towards Arizona, Mississippi State catcher Mia Davidson took a tough hit from a ball fouled straight again.

In seconds, Davidson shook it off, and play resumed.

“She’s been beat up just about for 5 years,” MSU coach Samantha Ricketts stated. “I believe that’s simply an instance of how she’s performed — simply places her physique on the road for every little thing. She’ll go all out, run right into a wall, a internet, no matter it takes to make a play for her workforce.”

Ever since coming into this system as a freshman in 2018, Davidson has been the Bulldogs’ reliable star, each behind and on the plate.

Now, Mississippi State should keep on with out her.

Saturday’s 7-1 loss to the Wildcats eradicated MSU from postseason play, closing the e-book on Davidson’s historic profession in Starkville.

The North Carolina native was a three-time all-Southeastern Convention first-team choose. She leaves because the SEC’s all-time dwelling run chief. And she or he’s headed into the skilled ranks with Athletes Limitless this summer time.

“She’s been the rock and the spine of this program since she received right here, and he or she just about has each report in her identify,” Ricketts stated. “Mississippi State softball goes to be synonymous with the identify Mia Davidson.”

That’s not why Davidson got here to Starkville, although. She needed to convey the Bulldogs moments like this — a house Tremendous Regional in Nusz Park, the outfield deck full of folks, the maroon chairbacks full, the concourse practically impassable due to the gang.

It was what Davidson dreamed of ever since committing to play for Mississippi State the summer time between eighth grade and ninth grade.

“From the get-go, that’s what I got down to do,” she stated. “I needed to come back to a program and make one thing of it and go away it higher than I discovered it.”

There’s no query Mia Davidson has accomplished that.

As a freshman, she helped Mississippi State make a regional last for the primary time 2005. The Bulldogs did the identical the following 12 months and once more in 2021.

This season, they took it a step additional. MSU upset No. 2 Florida State twice in a regional last in Tallahassee to not solely make its first Tremendous Regional however host it.

Ricketts stated it’s no accident Mississippi State stepped up its sport round Davidson — it’s what the Bulldogs star pushed for every day in observe and in video games.

“Simply wanting everybody to be nice — she began off with herself, after which she pushed everybody round her,” Ricketts stated. “I believe she actually raised the extent of each participant on this program.”

Her days of doing that may not be accomplished. Throughout preseason media day, Ricketts stated she’d be completely happy to determine a technique to hold Davidson round as a coach; the Bulldogs head coach hinted postgame at success in that goal.

“She was such an amazing extension of the teaching workers, and he or she’ll be round subsequent 12 months, and I do know she’s going to be pushing them even tougher now,” Ricketts stated.

It might be a becoming postscript for a participant of Davidson’s caliber. The Bulldogs star was delivered to tears within the postgame press convention as she mentioned the varsity she got here to like.

“I simply know that Mississippi State will all the time have my coronary heart, and it’ll all the time be a house it doesn’t matter what,” Davidson stated. “Thanks, Coach Ricketts, for the chance to reside out my dream as somewhat woman from Hillsborough, North Carolina. I couldn’t ask for anything from this program, from the varsity, from (athletic director) John Cohen, from all people.”

Davidson stated she gave MSU “my all and my coronary heart and my soul” ever since her dedication. In her last season, she managed to present the Bulldogs one thing further.

“She needed to construct one thing, she needed to be the primary, and that’s precisely what she did,” Ricketts stated. “She made historical past.”

Theo DeRosa stories on Mississippi State sports activities for The Dispatch. Comply with him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.