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Bita Cox helping lead the way for nationally-ranked Silverdale Baptist softball team

Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist junior Bita Cox watches her two-run triple fly to the right field corner during Monday's non-region game against Chattanooga Christian. Cox had two extra-base hits in an 11-run fifth inning for the Lady Seahawks in a 12-2 victory.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist junior Bita Cox watches her two-run triple fly to the right field corner during Monday's non-region game against Chattanooga Christian. Cox had two extra-base hits in an 11-run fifth inning for the Lady Seahawks in a 12-2 victory. Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist junior Bita Cox watches her two-run triple fly to the right field corner during Monday's non-region game against Chattanooga Christian. Cox had two extra-base hits in an 11-run fifth inning for the Lady Seahawks in a 12-2 victory.

By Patrick MacCoon 6 min read

Silverdale Baptist Academy junior Bita Cox has firmly cemented herself as one of the state’s top high school softball pitchers the last four years, and yet she is only a junior.

Since Cox arrived as a hard-throwing eighth-grader, great success has followed for the Lady Seahawks, who have posted an overall record of 129-17-1 to go with TSSAA Division II-A state championship runs in 2023 and 2024, followed by a state runner-up finish last spring.

Jackie Freelend’s team has benefited immensely from Cox’s mastery from the pitching circle, where the Division I prospect has close to 60 career wins and a 0.99 career ERA with close to 600 strikeouts in fewer than 400 innings pitched.

Two years after finishing with a 50-win season and a No. 15 ranking nationally, Silverdale Baptist is once again ranked in the country’s top 50 softball teams by MaxPreps.com. The Lady Seahawks are 14-2-1, with Cox also shining in the batter’s box with a .586 average and 15 RBIs.

Silverdale vs. Chattanooga Christian softball on March 23, 2026

Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian sophomore Millie Fox slides in to home safely for an inside-the-park home run during Monday's home game against Silverdale Baptist.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian sophomore Millie Fox slides in to home safely for an inside-the-park home run during Monday’s home game against Silverdale Baptist.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian sophomore Millie Fox slides in to home safely for an inside-the-park home run during Monday's home game against Silverdale Baptist.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian sophomore Millie Fox slides in to home safely for an inside-the-park home run during Monday’s home game against Silverdale Baptist.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian School's Hannah Smith, back left, and Millie Fox, front center, help set the lineup with power and speed for the defending Division II-AA state champion Lady Chargers.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian School’s Hannah Smith, back left, and Millie Fox, front center, help set the lineup with power and speed for the defending Division II-AA state champion Lady Chargers.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist junior Bita Cox watches her two-run triple fly to the right field corner during Monday's non-region game against Chattanooga Christian. Cox had two extra-base hits in an 11-run fifth inning for the Lady Seahawks in a 12-2 victory.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist junior Bita Cox watches her two-run triple fly to the right field corner during Monday’s non-region game against Chattanooga Christian. Cox had two extra-base hits in an 11-run fifth inning for the Lady Seahawks in a 12-2 victory.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist softball players line up on the field for the playing of the national anthem prior to Monday's non-region road game against defending Division II-AA state champion Chattanooga Christian. The Lady Seahawks won the game 12-2 in five-innings to improve to 14-2-1 overall on the season.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist softball players line up on the field for the playing of the national anthem prior to Monday’s non-region road game against defending Division II-AA state champion Chattanooga Christian. The Lady Seahawks won the game 12-2 in five-innings to improve to 14-2-1 overall on the season.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist head coach Jackie Freelend laughs with junior star Bita Cox on third base during a 12-2 road victory over Chattanooga Christian on Monday.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist head coach Jackie Freelend laughs with junior star Bita Cox on third base during a 12-2 road victory over Chattanooga Christian on Monday.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist junior ace Bita Cox delivers a pitch during Monday's 12-2 road victory over Chattanooga Christian.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist junior ace Bita Cox delivers a pitch during Monday’s 12-2 road victory over Chattanooga Christian.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian School senior Hannah Smith makes a put out in Monday's home game against Silverdale Baptist. Smith is signed to play college softball for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian School senior Hannah Smith makes a put out in Monday’s home game against Silverdale Baptist. Smith is signed to play college softball for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian School's Hannah Smith is a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball signee and is a returning key leader for the reigning Division II-AA state champion Lady Chargers.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Christian School’s Hannah Smith is a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball signee and is a returning key leader for the reigning Division II-AA state champion Lady Chargers.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist junior ace Bita Cox delivers a pitch during Monday's 12-2 road victory over Chattanooga Christian.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist junior ace Bita Cox delivers a pitch during Monday’s 12-2 road victory over Chattanooga Christian.

Cox’s bat highlighted an 11-run fifth inning in Monday’s 12-2 road victory over defending Division II-AA state champion Chattanooga Christian with a triple and a double while driving in three runs.