SOUTHAVEN - A local high school has named a new head softball coach, and it's someone familiar to Northwest softball program.

Tuesday morning, DeSoto Central High School announced the appointment of former Ranger pitcher Harley Smith as the Lady Jaguars' new head softball coach. Smith, a native of Lake Cormorant, served as an assistant coach at DCHS for the 2023 season after spending the 2022 campaign as an assistant coach at Southaven.

"I am excited about the opportunity given to me by the DeSoto Central administration," Smith said, in a statement released on social media by DeSoto Central. "I know the history of DeSoto Central softball and I am eager to lead this program. DeSoto Central has been in good hands for a number of years and I know we can continue to add to our legacy."

Smith pitched for Northwest Sports Hall of Famer and longtime Ranger softball coach Mike Rowan during the 2017-18 seasons, helping her team to a 20-win season and the first round of the 2017 MACJC Playoffs. She finished with 22 career wins in the circle, which still ranks fifth all-time in the Northwest record books.

Other notable achievements by Smith include ranking third in career appearances (57), fourth in innings pitched (270.0), sixth in complete games (23), sixth in career shutouts (4) and seventh in career strikeouts (166). Her name is also scattered throughout the single-season records, ranking first in fewest walks per game (0.68), fourth in appearances (33), seventh in wins (12), seventh in strikeouts (104), all set in 2017. Additionally, Smith also ranks both fourth and seventh for innings pitched in a single season, throwing 143.2 frames in 2017 and 126.1 in 2018.

During her time at Northwest, Smith was a two-time All-MACJC selection and a All-America Scholar Athlete, as appointed by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She was also a mainstay on the college's President's List for four semesters.