Sometimes when they get off the bus, you can just spot the leader of a team. The way they warm up, the way they carry themselves on the field, or the way they communicate with their peers. If you saw the Loyd Star Lady Hornets play softball this season, then you saw Johnna Norman leading. Outstanding in the field and at the plate, Norman has been named The Daily Leader All-Area Most Valuable Player.

A Copiah-Lincoln signee, Norman hit .444 with 36 RBIs and 29 runs scored for the Lady Hornets. She hit five doubles, five triples, and five home runs with a .861 slugging percentage for coach Jan Delaughter. A 2018 MAC All-Star game participant, Norman also stole 10 bases and was part of four double plays as a third baseman. Loyd Star finished the season 21-7-1 and won the Region 7-2A title. They were eliminated from the playoffs by state finalist Enterprise-Clarke.

It was a great bounce back season for Norman, who hit .408 as a sophomore on a 20-3 LS team, but saw her average drop by 200 points as a junior. Norman has been a longtime fixture for her team as she hit .228 with 12 RBIs as an eighth grader in 2015 on a LS squad that finished 27-6 and 2A state runners-up.

“I pushed myself harder this year to be the best I could be,” said Norman.” I tried to do extra of everything. I stayed and hit extra or came back to the field to hit. I worked harder to get better.”