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: Saltillo High School 

Coach’s Name: Eric Reynolds

Classification: MHSAA 5A 

2022 Record: 28-8

District Number: District 1 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 2 

Team Strengths: Pitching & Defense

Top Returning Players:

• P/OF Drake Douglas (Northeast Mississippi CC)
• INF Luke Wood (Itawamba CC)
• RHP/OF Gavin McCoy (Northwest Mississippi CC)
• SS Mason Easterling (Northeast Mississippi CC)
• 2B Gavin McGee

Top 2023 Prospects:

• UTL Jacob Brown (CoahomaCC)

Top 2024 Prospects:

• UTL Will Lipscomb

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• INF/RHP Baylor Roberts
• OF/P Wilson Rodriguez
• P Jordan Evers
• P/INF Ben Monoghan
• OF/P Smythe McCoy
• OF Dawson Arriola
• C Ethan Arriola

Team Outlook:

The Saltillo Tigers are coming off a very successful 2022 season which ended with a 28-8 record and an appearance in the 5A North State Championship. Coach Eric Reynolds returns 5 positional starters and 2 arms this season and feels pitching and defense will give them a chance to take it a step further in 2023. 

Top returners for the Tigers will be seniors Drake Douglas (OF/RHP), Luke Wood (INF - Itawamba CC), Gavin McCoy (OF/RHP - Northwest MS CC), Mason Easterling (SS - Northeast MS CC), and Gavin McGee (2B). Douglas, a Northeast MS CC recruit, is a strong dual threat option that can change the game both offensively and on the mound. Jacob Brown (UTL - Coahoma CC) is another senior Coach Reynolds expects to step up this spring. 

Other Tigers looking to make their mark during the 2023 season are junior Will Lipscomb (OF), and a host of sophomore’s which include former PBR Junior Future Games participant Baylor Roberts (MI), Wilson Rodriguez (OF/P), Jordan Evers (P), Ben Monoghan (INF/P), Smythe McCoy (OF/P), Dawson Arriola (OF), and Ethan Arriola (C). 

Expect battle in District 1 and possible deep run from Saltillo this year, and with several underclassmen about to step up, the foreseeable future for the Tigers looks exciting as well. 

 

 

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