Prep Baseball Report

MS High School Team Preview: Yazoo County Panthers


PBR Mississippi Staff

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: Yazoo County High School 

Coach’s Name: Corbin Ellis Jr. 

Classification: MHSAA 3A 

2022 Record: 10-12

District Number: 3A, District 3 

No. of Returning Positional Starters:

No. of Returning Pitchers:

Team Strengths: A group that has been playing together for a few years, returning seven positional starters, potential speed threatening squad.

Top Returning Players: 

  • OF Demarion Luckett
  • RHP/INF Ty Saxton
  • RHP/INF John Catlett
  • RHP/OF Donavin Green
  • UTL Michael Pickens

Team Outlook:

The Panthers look to build and improve on their (10-12) record from last season as they return a majority of their starting lineup for the 2023 season, including seven positional starters and five arms on the mound. A group that has had plenty of time on the field together in years past and looks to make their way into the Class 3A Playoffs this upcoming season. 

Yazoo County is led by a quartet of seniors, OF, Demarion Luckett (2023), RHP/INF, Ty Saxton (2023), RHP/OF, Donavin Green (2023) and UTL, Michael Pickens (2023). Pickens is an ideal leadoff guy you want in the everyday lineup, athletic LHH who finds his way on the bases and can also find the barrel consistently. Displays excellent speed and puts heavy amounts of pressure on opposing defenses, looks to lead the way on the offensive end of things as he led the Panthers in multiple categories in 2022, including batting average, on base percentage, stolen bases, runs and hits. As a whole, the Panthers are a team that likes to run the bases, where they snagged a total of 67 bags in 2022 and plan to use their speed to their advantage again in 2023 as well. 

Pitchers Ty Saxton and RHP, John Catlett look to carry some of the weight on the mound this upcoming season, Catlett is a reliable arm who pounds the zone, forces a solid amount of weaker contact and gets outs efficiently. It will be fun to keep an eye on the Panthers in Class 3A this Spring.

 

Follow on Twitter: @PBR_Mississippi
Follow on Instagram: @PBRMississippi

 

Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE DATE LOCATION
Mid-South Preseason ID 1/14 University of Memphis Indoor Facility (Memphis, TN)
Mississippi Preseason ID 1/14 Freedom Ridge Park (Ridgeland, MS)
Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) 1/21 Mississippi College - Frierson Field (Clinton, MS)

 

+ Click HERE to create a free profile.

+ Click HERE to purchase a subscription which gives you access to additional information on the site. 


Related Content: