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: Kossuth High School 

Coach’s Name: Garison Lathrop 

Classification: MHSAA 3A 

2022 Record: 20-9

District Number: District 1 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 10 

Team Strengths: Pitching, Defense

Top Returning Players:

• RHP/SS Hank Eaton (Auburn)
• C Bryson Jackson
• RHP/OF Jack Johnson
• RHP/MIF Logan Williams
• RHP/MIF Ayden Wilbanks

Top 2023 Prospects:

• OF/LHP Ashton Knight

Top 2024 Prospects: 

• OF/RHP TJ Oakman

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• RHP Eli Hinton

Team Outlook:

Kossuth has plenty to be excited about in 2023 as they return 8 positional starters and a whopping 10 pitchers to the bump from a squad that finished 20-9 last season, including a 3rd round appearance in the 3A state playoffs. Coach Garison Lathrop feels depth in pitching and solid defensive play will be the key ingredients for an even deeper run for the Aggies this spring. 

Top returners include seniors Jack Johnson (CF/RHP) and Ashton Knight (OF/LHP), juniors Hank Eaton (INF/RHP), Bryson Jackson (C), Logan Williams (INF/RHP), TJ Oakman (OF/RHP), and freshman Ayden Wilbanks (INF/RHP). 

An underclassman looking to contribute for the Aggies will be sophomore Eli Hinton (RHP) who projects to get some meaningful innings this season. 

Auburn commit Eaton, and Johnson look to provide big time two production once again for the Aggies as both were extremely valuable last season on the mound with Eaton carrying the load with 9 mound wins while sporting a 1.51 ERA. Johnson looks to build off a solid year himself which included 3 wins and 1.42 ERA. 

With several college prospects taking the field for the Aggies, this team should be fun to watch, and could be looking at a trip to Trustmark. 

 

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