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MS High School Team Preview: Belmont Cardinals

February 13, 2023
PBR Mississippi Staff

The 2023 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Mississippi.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Pearl, MS at Trustmark Park as they compete for a state championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Mississippi. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing other pieces of content covering the Magnolia State.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each MHSAA classification as well as a Power 25. 

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.


High School Name: Belmont High School

Coach’s Name: Michael Hindman

Classification: MHSAA 2A

2022 Record: 16-13

District Number: District 1

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5

No. of Returning Pitchers: 2

Team Strengths: Team Chemistry, Leadership and Development of young guys.

Top Returning Prospects:

  • C Eli Sparks (Northeast Mississippi CC)
  • 1B/RHP Cade Stephens
  • MIF Landon Sappington

Top 2024 Prospects:

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

Team Outlook:

Belmont Head Coach Michael Hindman returns 5 positional starters and 2 arms from 2022 and finds his squad in a slight rebuilding phase. The Cardinals finished 16-13 with a second round appearance in the 2A state playoffs and will look to some senior leadership and solid team chemistry in hopes of a successful 2023 campaign. 

Top returners for Belmont are seniors Eli Sparks (C - Northeast MS CC), Cade Stephens (1B/RHP), and Landon Sappington (MI). Sparks is one of the better catching prospects in the 2023 class and will lead a young pitching staff. Sappington is a solid leadoff option and base running threat while Stephens, who Coach Hindman says is a team leader, carries a middle of the order bat. 

Other players expected to contribute are juniors Brayden Hodum (CF/RHP) and Brody Giles (INF). Hodum is a top returning arm with some playoff experience, while Giles can play a variety of infield positions and has some legit pop in his bat. 

Underclassmen looking to step up will be sophomores Collier Clark (1B/OF/RHP) and Brayden Smith (C/OF/RHP), along with freshman Peyton Pharr (MI/RHP). 

Belmont looks to have plenty of young talent on the way so look for the Cardinals to be in contention at the 2A level in the foreseeable future. 

 

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