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: Pass Christian High School

Coach’s Name: Ricky Smith

Classification: MHSAA 4A

2022 Record: 20-11

District Number: District 8

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6

No. of Returning Pitchers: 6

Team Strengths: Pitching

Top Returning Players:

• SS/RHP Peyton Lacy (Southern Miss)
• UTL Dylan Welter (Millsaps College)
• C Andre Gilberti

Top 2023 Prospects:

• 1B Quinton Emerick

Top 2024 Prospects:

• INF MyCanton Warren
• RHP Evan Anderson

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• 1B/P Brendan Necaise
• OF Skylar Summerville

Team Outlook:

Pass Christian returns 6 starters and 6 pitchers from a roster that finished 20-11 and a second round appearance in the 4A state playoffs in 2022. Head Coach Ricky Smith believes his pitching staff, many of which picked up valuable playoff innings last year, and overall team athleticism should give the Pirates an advantage this spring and hopefully lead to a deeper playoff run. 

The Pirates will be led by seniors Peyton Lacy (SS/RHP), Dylan Welter (UTL), and Andre Gilberti (C). Lacy, a Southern Miss signee, and Welter, a Milsaps recruit, will be counted on heavily in 2023 to lead Pass Christian both offensively and defensively, while Gilberti handles the pitching staff from behind the plate. 

Other players Coach Smith expects to contribute will be senior Quinton Emerick (1B/P), along with juniors MyCanton Warren (IF/RHP) and Evan Anderson (RHP). Anderson was one of the more trusted arms out of the pen in 2022. 

Underclassmen that will get a chance to make an impact include sophomore’s Brendan Necaise (1B/RHP), who Smith feels is “poised to have a breakout season and will be a big time arm for the next 3 years”, and smooth swinging lefty, Skylar Summerville (OF).

Expect a battle in District 8 as the Pirates look to take the top spot with competition from Stone, Bay, and last year’s champions, Greene County. 

 

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