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: Petal High School

Coach’s Name: Jake Mills

Classification: MHSAA 6A

2022 Record: 19-15

District Number: District 5

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3

No. of Returning Pitchers: 6

Team Strengths: Lineup that will have potential to hit with power, seven guys who will produce quality innings on the mound.

Top Returning Players:

• RHP/OF Eli Waters (Pearl River CC)
• UTL Jeremiah McKinney
• SS Keegan Giger (Pearl River CC)
• RHP/INF Tanner Beliveau (Mississippi State)
• LHP/1B Davis Knight
• RHP Andy Wayne Hillman

Top 2023 Prospects:

• OF Cooper Nash

Top 2024 Prospects:

• OF/RHP Cayden Burger
• C/RHP Britt Stringer

Team Outlook:

Coach Jake Mills returns 3 positional starters and 6 arms from last year’s squad that finished 19-15 including a 3rd round match up with eventual 6A state champs, the Northwest Rankin Cougars. Coach Mills is excited about his offensive attack from top to bottom and can look to 7 different arms ready to take the mound as the Panthers head into 2023. 

Top returners include seniors Eli Waters (OF/RHP - Pearl River CC), Jeremiah McKinney (UTL), Keegan Giger (SS - Pearl River CC), Davis Knight (LHP), Andy Hillman (RHP), and Cooper Nash (OF). Waters will be expected to carry the load on the mound for the Panthers after a solid junior season which saw the righty pick up 5 wins with a stingy 1.34 ERA. Giger will look to supply a spark to the offense and lead the defense from his SS position. 

Other players expected to play a major role for Petal are juniors Cayden Burger (OF/RHP) and Britt Stringer (C/RHP). Burger and Stringer should be solid “go to” guys on the mound with both having fastballs that work into the mid 80’s with Burger possessing an above average breaking ball as well. 

One underclassmen that could be a huge contributor for the Panthers is recent Mississippi State commit Tanner Beliveau (INF/RHP). Beliveau worked 86-92 mph on the bump in fall workouts and will compete for a startling role on the mound and see time at 3B and catcher.

The Panthers will look to take the top spot in District 5 with competition from Oak Grove, Meridian, and last seasons champions, Brandon.