Lady Trojans add Tori Pettit as Assistant Softball Coach

Tori Pettit has been hired as an assistant coach for Lady Trojan Softball. The Jackson, Mississippi native is a 2017 graduate of Florence High School.

She attended Copiah Lincoln Community College and played softball for two years - 2017 to 2019. She was Second Team All-State, Phi Theta Kappa and a member of the All-Academic Team. She continued her playing career at Delta State University from 2019 to 2021. She then served as a Graduate Assistant at DSU and then began her teaching and coaching career at Cleveland Central High School.

"Throughout the years I have been a utility player that specializes in hitting and fielding techniques," Pettit said. "I have earned a Bachelor's degree in biology and am currently working on a Master's in teaching."

Pettit puts a big emphasis on practice time and that focus is key to success on the softball diamond. 

"Perfect practice makes perfect. Every move you make has to be done with maximum effort and ability so the end result can be what you want it to be," Assistant Coach Pettit said. "Every pitch and every play you should focus on making better than the last one no matter what. The second you step onto that field you should compete. Compete with the pitcher. Compete with the hitter and compete with yourself. At practice are you trying to be better than the person beside you? Are you trying to perfect what you do? In softball, you have to win everything. You have to win the pitch to win the at-bat. You have to win the at-bat to win the play. You have to win the inning to win the game. Winning is just the reward. What you do in between is the result."

Though Pettit has had high school coaching stops, she's ready to step up to the next level and help build a winner and be a Trojan.

"I'm excited and eager for this opportunity to start my college coaching career. Mississippi Delta is such a special place and I can't wait to put my mark on it," she said. "I want to make this softball program better than I found it. I want to make these girls remember the next two years forever. I'm excited for this opportunity to make a difference both on the field and the Mississippi Delta."