MS High School Team Preview: Florence Eagles
January 20, 2023
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: Florence High School
Coach’s Name: Josh Anderson
Classification: MHSAA 5A
2022 Record: 9-14
District Number: District 5
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Pitching
Top Returning Players:
- C/RHP Brady Smith
- P/OF Reise Thomas
- P/OF Dawson Weems
- P/1B Kannon Griffin
Team Outlook:
Coming off a 9-14 record and a first round loss in the 5A state playoff’s a year ago, the Florence Eagles look to rebound in 2023 with a very competitive team. Head coach Josh Anderson returns 5 positional starters and 4 solid arms which he feels could be a key ingredient to a successful spring.
Top returners include seniors Brady Smith (C/RHP), Reise Thomas (OF/LHP), Dawson Weems (OF/LHP), and Kannon Griffin (1B/RHP). These players were also the top 4 run producers for the Eagles a year ago so the bulk of the offensive production returns. The Eagles also added transfer Doc McLaurin who could be a solid pick up as the righty found the other side of the fence 8 times a year ago at Magee HS.
Smith, Thomas, and Weems look to be the biggest innings eaters on the mound as well for the Eagles while Coach Anderson will definitely be looking for others to step up in hopes of a deeper playoff run in 2023.
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