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: Germantown High School 

Coach’s Name: Chris Peden 

Classification: MHSAA 6A 

2022 Record: 18-11

District Number: District 4 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 8 

Team Strengths: Depth on defense and offense

Top Returning Players:

• P/OF JP Robertson (Pearl River CC)
• OF Lawson Gardner (East Central CC)
• INF/RHP Drew Harrison (Tulane)
• C/1B Hampton Ross (Meridian CC)
• UTL Jackson Hood (Pearl River CC)
• INF Andrew Dinkelacker (Holmes CC)

Top 2023 Prospects: 

• OF/P Brayden Cooley (Copiah Lincoln CC)
• INF/P Cody Presley
• P Peyton Fowler (Meridian CC)
• C/INF John Michael Hammett

Top 2024 Prospects: 

• INF RJ Shoto

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• OF/P Jackson Estes
• C/INF Brayden Quick
• INF/P Amaya Esco
• P/INF Rhett Murphy
• UTL Cooper Rayburn
• INF JR North
• P/OF Devin Moore
• INF Ashton Smith

Team Outlook:

The Germantown Mavericks are geared up and ready to enjoy what could be a very successful 2023 season. Head Coach Chris Peden returns 7 positional starters and 8 pitchers from a team that finished 18-11 with a second round appearance in the 6A state playoffs. Coach Peden feels defensive play and a productive offensive attack will be the key ingredients in hopes of a deep playoff run and possible trip to Trustmark Park. 

Top returners for the Mavericks include seniors JP Roberston (OF/RHP - Pearl River CC), Lawson Gardner (OF - East Central CC), Hampton Ross (C/1B - Meridian CC), and Andrew Dinklacker (INF - Holmes CC), along with juniors Drew Harrison (INF/RHP - Tulane) and Jackson Hood (INF/C/RHP - Pearl River CC). Robertson, who recorded 9 wins last season with an minuscule 1.04 ERA will be counted on heavily once again in important games, though Coach Peden will be looking for others to step up big time this spring. Both Harrison and Hood were PBR Future Games participants this past summer in Atlanta and will be expected to produce for Germantown. 

Other players Peden will be looking at for help will be seniors Brayden Cooley (OF/P - Copiah Lincoln CC), Cody Presley (INF/RHP), Peyton Fowler (RHP - Meridian CC), John Michael Hammett (C/INF - Holmes CC), and junior RJ Shoto (INF/RHP). Fowler threw several innings last season and will be an arm that should be able to help out in big match ups. 

A host of underclassmen could gain some valuable experience in 2023. They include sophomores Jackson Estes (OF/P), Brayden Quick (C/INF), Amaya Esco (INF/RHP), Rhett Murphy (INF/RHP), Cooper Rayburn (INF/OF/RHP), JR North (INF), and freshmen Devin Moore (OF/P) and Ashton Smith (INF).

With a solid roster up and down and full of college prospects, the Mavericks look to be primed and ready to go to battle in District 4 with a trip to Trustmark definitely a possibility. 

 

Follow on Twitter: @PBR_Mississippi
Follow on Instagram: @PBRMississippi
Follow on Facebook: Prep Baseball Report - MS
Follow on SoundCloud: PBR Mississippi

 

 

Related Content: