CLINTON, Miss. (WTVA) - The Mississippi High School Activities Association announced Thursday that slow-pitch softball is being discontinued as a sport, effective immediately.
The MHSAA said its Executive Committee, which is made up of 15 school administrators from throughout the state, made its decision this month.
In a statement on its website, the MHSAA said approximately 75 high schools competed in slow-pitch in the fall, down by more than half from just six years ago. It said 214 schools have signed up to participate in fast-pitch softball in the spring.
MHSAA Executive Director Don Hinton also said the growth of volleyball, which is also played in the fall, has paralleled the decline in participation with slow-pitch.
Last weekend in Madison, Neshoba Central defeated Wayne County for the Class II slow-pitch crown while Lake defeated Houston for the Class I championship.