Brandi Tynes, a Columbia High School graduate, was a two-time MACJC all-state and all-region softball star for the Wildcats from 2002-03 who also earned NJCAA All-America status.

She won the triple crown at PRCC twice. As a sophomore, she hit .425 with four home runs and 40 RBIs for coach Laurie Neelis. She played left field as a freshman and shortstop as a sophomore.          

“Brandi was instrumental in our success,” said Neelis. “She was our spark plug offensively and defensively.”

When Tynes was a sophomore, the Wildcats finished 20-18, making it to the MACJC tournament finals.     

Tynes, who makes her home in Hattiesburg, signed with Mississippi University for Women, where she played one season before transferring to Midwestern (Texas) State University after a tornado halted athletics at MUW. She took seven years off and joined the Army. She was active duty for seven years, serving twice in Korea and once in Iraq.

“It was a lot of fun at Pearl River,” she said. “The coaches really pushed togetherness. They made sure you went to class and stressed to us that it was not all about softball, but getting an education as well.”

Tynes was the third softball player inducted into the PRCC Sports Hall of Fame.