With prep softball season set to begin this weekend, quite a few local players have already taken a step to play on the next level once their respective high school careers conclude in a few months. Ten Jackson County prep products recently signed junior college softball scholarships with various community college across the state. East Central High School led the way with a quartet of signees, three of which are headed to Pearl River Community College. Sarah Depperschmidt, Illyssa Easton and Ramee Taylor are all headed to Poplarville, while teammate Lanae Davis signed with Mississippi Gulf Coast and will play for head coach Kenneth Long, a Hurley native. In Moss Point, a trio of Lady Tigers inked deals. Elexis Brice and Jayla Poindexter signed with Meridian Community College while Reagan Autmon is headed to Parkinson to play for Mississippi Gulf Coast. Also, St. Martin's Rebecca Anderson signed with Jones County Junior College. And, at Ocean Springs, Tori Gum signed with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Madison York will play at East Central Community College. The prep softball season across South Mississippi starts Saturday.