MS High School Team Preview: Walnut Wildcats
February 11, 2023
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: Walnut High School
Coach’s Name: Cody Brownlee
Classification: MHSAA 2A
2022 Record: 18-12
District Number: District 1
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Defense and Pitching
Top Returning Players:
- 1B/RHP Dylan Mayo
- C Jack Leak
- UTL Adrian Palmer
- SS Gatlin Brownlee
Top 2023 Prospects:
- OF Collin Clifton
Top 2024 Prospects:
- OF Zyler Clifton
- INF/RHP Drew Jackson
Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:
- INF/RHP Issiah Sauceda
Team Outlook:
Walnut Head Coach Cody Brownlee will look to his 7 returning positional starters and 6 arms to improve on last year’s solid 18-12 record that included a first round match up with Bruce in the 2A state playoffs. Brownlee feels his teams overall defense and solid pitching could help in hopes of a deeper playoff run in 2023.
Top returners for the Wildcats are senior Dylan Mayo (1B/RHP), junior Jack Leak (C/RHP), sophomore Adrian Palmer (UTL/RHP), and 8th grader Gatlin Brownlee (SS/RHP). Mayo will be a solid dual player for the Wildcats as he helped lead the offensive attack a year ago with 20 RBI’s while also sporting a 3.50 ERA on the mound. Leak and Palmer also played dual roles and will be expected to do the same in 2023. The young Brownlee was impressive as a 7th grader, picking up 4 mound wins to go along with a .280 batting average.
Other players that will be looked at to contribute will be senior Collin Clifton (OF) along with juniors Zyler Clifton (OF/RHP) and Drew Jackson (INF/RHP). Clifton is a submarine pitcher with a middle of the order bat.
An Underclassmen looking to play a major role is sophomore Issiah Sauceda (INF/RHP) who Coach Brownlee says has plenty of potential both offensively and defensively.
The Wildcats will look to compete for the top spot in District 1 with last years 2A state champions, East Union, along with Pine Grove and Baldwyn.
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