Class of 2024: Sara Phillips

STARKVILLE – The No. 12 pitcher in the class, Sara Phillips, signed with Mississippi State softball in November.

The Trussville, Alabama, native was also tabbed the No. 18 player overall by Extra Inning Softball. She was a MaxPreps First Team High School All-American and was nominated for USA Today HSSA Softball Player of the Year.

"Sara Phillips embodies the essence of a well-rounded competitor," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She's shown her pure athleticism by playing three sports at Hewitt-Trussville and reaching the state championship in two of them. With a proven track record in championships and on the biggest stages and her elite spin, she will be a valuable addition to our bullpen."

Phillips helped Hewitt-Trussville High School to two state titles and a state runner-up finish over her first three seasons. She's been named to the All-State Tournament Team all three years and has twice been selected to the All-State First Team.

In her freshman year, she went 16-0 in the circle and struck out 119 batters in 87.0 innings. She posted a 1.93 ERA in her debut campaign, which was the highest of her career thus far.

As a sophomore, she struck out 200 hitters and allowed just eight earned runs for a 0.47 ERA. She pitched to an 18-1 record that season and was named All-South Metro Pitcher of the Year. She batted .337 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs that spring and was tabbed to the Alabama Terrific 20 and labeled the Trussville Tribune Player of the Year.

In 2023, Phillips went 22-1 with a 1.22 ERA. She was named the All-South Metro Pitcher of the Year and selected to the 2023 North-South All-Star Team. Phillips struck out a career-high 209 hitters that year while batting .319 herself with 25 RBIs.

"I chose MSU because it immediately felt like home," Phillips said. "I loved the small-town atmosphere and the amazing facilities. I especially loved the chemistry of the coaching staff and the dynamics of the team."

She played travel ball for Georgia Athletics Gold, which finished in the top 20 at the 2023 PGF 18U Premier Nationals. She struck out 83 batters in 83.1 innings on the travel circuit this summer. In 2022, she struck out 99.

Phillips also played basketball and volleyball, and she reached the state championship game with her basketball team in 2021. She is a member of the National Honor Society.

Mississippi State softball signed nine student-athletes on National Signing Day on Nov. 8. State's class was ranked No. 15 by Extra Inning Softball. Six of the newcomers have been ranked by Extra Inning Softball as top 100 prospects, marking Rickett's largest number of top-100 prospects since taking over as head coach in 2020. The Bulldogs will continue to release an in-depth look at each signee throughout the month of December.

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."

Mississippi State University Athletics

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