#1) Centreville Tigers
The Centreville Tigers have some unfinished business this season. After getting out to a 1-0 series lead over Brookhaven in last season’s state semi-finals the Tigers dropped the series 2-1 and ended their run with a 22-11 record under Head Coach Jason Horne.
With seven starters returning and the addition of junior southpaw and LSU signee Hunter Devall the Tigers are the favorites to win the Class AA State Championship.
Complimenting Devall in the pitching rotation will be fellow junior Cliff Hurst. Hurst (9-1) had a dominating 2010 season on the mound and at the plate.
#2) Brookhaven Cougars
The defending Class AA State Champions finished with a 29-8 mark last season and open up the 2011 campaign with some holes to fill. Head Coach Casey Edwards will look to replace starting pitchers Tripp Jolly and Tyler Parvin and clutch hitters Will Gatlin and Brent Henderson.
Returning this season is Christian Keene who is among the top 15 juniors in the state. Keene excelled in centerfield last season and will work into the pitching rotation this year.
#3) Simpson Cougars
Advancing to the Class AA semi-finals last season the Simpson Cougars couldn’t match up with the strong pitching rotation they faced against state runners up Hillcrest but the 2011 season has much promise as the Cougars return seven starters from last year’s 17-8 squad under the direction of Head Coach Britt Hederman. Look for Simpson to be the early favorites in District 3AA.
#4) Marshall Patriots
With the success of the Marshall basketball program baseball in Holly Springs has been a little slow in developing but first year Head Coach Bart Jenkins likes his young talent and will be working to replace starting pitchers Parker James, who is playing baseball at Blue Mountain College, and southpaw Will Patton who is pitching at Mississippi Delta CC. Also gone are infielders Tyler Childers, Jake Omedeo and Caleb Byrd.
The young talent that Jenkins is excited about could pay big dividends as the season progresses. Senior Josh Vanderburg will anchor the Patriot defense behind the plate and Aaron McAlexander could be one of the better sophomores in the MAIS and with the addition of junior Kevin Fitzpatrick at shortstop the Patriots (27-7 in 2010) could be serious contenders in the North when April rolls around.
#5) Central Private Rebels
The Central Private Rebels will be looking to recapture that dominance that propelled them to four straight state championships from 2005-08. Head Coach Jason Kinchen has to replace six seniors from last season’s 19-8 squad that fell to Brookhaven in the state quarter-finals and with a roster that consisted of just four juniors in 2010 look for the Rebels to make a late season run as this young squad gets some innings under their belts.
#6) Hillcrest Cougars
The rich tradition of Hillcrest baseball enters a new chapter as the Cougars look to replace the most dominant pitching rotation in Class AA last season. Hillcrest Head Coach Shane Kelly will have the daunting task of replacing Austin Hartzog (Ole Miss), Josh Rogers (Southern Miss) and Caleb Baucum (Hinds CC) on the mound.
Compounding problems is the fact two of those starting pitchers were among the leading hitters as Baucum hit .429 and Rogers .398 on the season.
The Cougars finished their 2010 run with a 23-11 record and fell to Brookhaven in the Class AA State finals. While pitching will be a big concern they do return an influx of talent. Leading that talent will be senior and Hinds CC signee Justin Smith who led the team in hitting last season at .434 and a .655 slugging average.
#7) River Oaks Mustangs
Finishing District 6AA runners-up and dropping a competitive three game series in round one of the playoffs to Brookhaven last season has brought high hopes at River Oaks entering the 2011 campaign. Mustang Head Coach Michael Johnston has 6 starters returning and his entire pitching rotation from last year’s 16-10 squad. Expect to see River Oaks get off to a slow start but pick up steam as March nears.
#8) North Delta Green Wave
Although North Delta finished 13-8 overall and fourth in the highly competitive District 1AA last season the Green Wave are amongst the most talked about teams in the North Region of Class AA baseball. Pitching will be the strongpoint for North Delta in 2011 as they rely on Northwest Mississippi CC signees Jim Tom Copeland and Ethan Taylor to carry the load on the mound.
#9) Bowling Green Buccaneers
First year Head Coach Matt Sessions has six returning starters from last season’s squad that made a playoff appearance and finished 2nd in District 4AA. Back is hard throwing and Southwest CC signee Jason Milton on the mound. Milton should get lots of run support from a strong top of the hitting order as Russ Smith enters his sophomore season after dinging 9 homers as a freshman in 2010. Also complimenting Smith will be senior Cruz Serigne who has shown great power hitting during preseason.
#10) Indianola Colonels
The Indianola Colonels finished the 2010 regular season as District 1AA runners-up and defeated Carroll in the first round of the playoffs. Although they fell to Simpson in the quarter-finals the Colonels finished a strong 18-13. With six starters returning, but no power hitters, Head Coach Clete Putnam will rely on “small ball” to manufacture runs. Back will be senior shortstop Zach Whitfield who led Indianola with a .400 batting average last season. The Colonels will not have much room for error in the tough District 1AA race but look for a solid performance in 2011.
The Centreville Tigers have some unfinished business this season. After getting out to a 1-0 series lead over Brookhaven in last season’s state semi-finals the Tigers dropped the series 2-1 and ended their run with a 22-11 record under Head Coach Jason Horne.
With seven starters returning and the addition of junior southpaw and LSU signee Hunter Devall the Tigers are the favorites to win the Class AA State Championship.
Complimenting Devall in the pitching rotation will be fellow junior Cliff Hurst. Hurst (9-1) had a dominating 2010 season on the mound and at the plate.
#2) Brookhaven Cougars
The defending Class AA State Champions finished with a 29-8 mark last season and open up the 2011 campaign with some holes to fill. Head Coach Casey Edwards will look to replace starting pitchers Tripp Jolly and Tyler Parvin and clutch hitters Will Gatlin and Brent Henderson.
Returning this season is Christian Keene who is among the top 15 juniors in the state. Keene excelled in centerfield last season and will work into the pitching rotation this year.
#3) Simpson Cougars
Advancing to the Class AA semi-finals last season the Simpson Cougars couldn’t match up with the strong pitching rotation they faced against state runners up Hillcrest but the 2011 season has much promise as the Cougars return seven starters from last year’s 17-8 squad under the direction of Head Coach Britt Hederman. Look for Simpson to be the early favorites in District 3AA.
#4) Marshall Patriots
With the success of the Marshall basketball program baseball in Holly Springs has been a little slow in developing but first year Head Coach Bart Jenkins likes his young talent and will be working to replace starting pitchers Parker James, who is playing baseball at Blue Mountain College, and southpaw Will Patton who is pitching at Mississippi Delta CC. Also gone are infielders Tyler Childers, Jake Omedeo and Caleb Byrd.
The young talent that Jenkins is excited about could pay big dividends as the season progresses. Senior Josh Vanderburg will anchor the Patriot defense behind the plate and Aaron McAlexander could be one of the better sophomores in the MAIS and with the addition of junior Kevin Fitzpatrick at shortstop the Patriots (27-7 in 2010) could be serious contenders in the North when April rolls around.
#5) Central Private Rebels
The Central Private Rebels will be looking to recapture that dominance that propelled them to four straight state championships from 2005-08. Head Coach Jason Kinchen has to replace six seniors from last season’s 19-8 squad that fell to Brookhaven in the state quarter-finals and with a roster that consisted of just four juniors in 2010 look for the Rebels to make a late season run as this young squad gets some innings under their belts.
#6) Hillcrest Cougars
The rich tradition of Hillcrest baseball enters a new chapter as the Cougars look to replace the most dominant pitching rotation in Class AA last season. Hillcrest Head Coach Shane Kelly will have the daunting task of replacing Austin Hartzog (Ole Miss), Josh Rogers (Southern Miss) and Caleb Baucum (Hinds CC) on the mound.
Compounding problems is the fact two of those starting pitchers were among the leading hitters as Baucum hit .429 and Rogers .398 on the season.
The Cougars finished their 2010 run with a 23-11 record and fell to Brookhaven in the Class AA State finals. While pitching will be a big concern they do return an influx of talent. Leading that talent will be senior and Hinds CC signee Justin Smith who led the team in hitting last season at .434 and a .655 slugging average.
#7) River Oaks Mustangs
Finishing District 6AA runners-up and dropping a competitive three game series in round one of the playoffs to Brookhaven last season has brought high hopes at River Oaks entering the 2011 campaign. Mustang Head Coach Michael Johnston has 6 starters returning and his entire pitching rotation from last year’s 16-10 squad. Expect to see River Oaks get off to a slow start but pick up steam as March nears.
#8) North Delta Green Wave
Although North Delta finished 13-8 overall and fourth in the highly competitive District 1AA last season the Green Wave are amongst the most talked about teams in the North Region of Class AA baseball. Pitching will be the strongpoint for North Delta in 2011 as they rely on Northwest Mississippi CC signees Jim Tom Copeland and Ethan Taylor to carry the load on the mound.
#9) Bowling Green Buccaneers
First year Head Coach Matt Sessions has six returning starters from last season’s squad that made a playoff appearance and finished 2nd in District 4AA. Back is hard throwing and Southwest CC signee Jason Milton on the mound. Milton should get lots of run support from a strong top of the hitting order as Russ Smith enters his sophomore season after dinging 9 homers as a freshman in 2010. Also complimenting Smith will be senior Cruz Serigne who has shown great power hitting during preseason.
#10) Indianola Colonels
The Indianola Colonels finished the 2010 regular season as District 1AA runners-up and defeated Carroll in the first round of the playoffs. Although they fell to Simpson in the quarter-finals the Colonels finished a strong 18-13. With six starters returning, but no power hitters, Head Coach Clete Putnam will rely on “small ball” to manufacture runs. Back will be senior shortstop Zach Whitfield who led Indianola with a .400 batting average last season. The Colonels will not have much room for error in the tough District 1AA race but look for a solid performance in 2011.
