MS High School Team Preview: South Jones Braves
January 2, 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: South Jones High School
Coach’s Name: Mason Strickland
Classification: MHSAA 5A
2022 Record: 24-9
District Number: District 6
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Top Returning Players:
- UTL Lane Steinwinder
- INF/RHP Cole Richardson (Southern Miss)
- UTL Dylan Causey (Southern Miss)
Top 2023 Prospects:
- UTL Dax Ellzey
Top 2024 Prospects:
- OF Chase Billiot
- OF Ryley Parker
Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:
- UTL Cayden Kinmon
- OF Bryson Bey
- OF/LHP Micah Coutta
Team Outlook:
South Jones finished with an impressive 24-9 record in 2022 with a 3rd round appearance in the 5A state playoffs. Coach Mason Strickland returns 5 positional starters and 5 solid arms that put his Braves right back in the mix as state contenders for the 2023 season.
Seniors Lane Steinwinder (UT) and Dax Ellzey (RHP) will look to provide leadership to a fairly young squad. Stein winder hit an impressive .354 from the left side last season while Ellzey held opponents in check with a 2.40 ERA in 19 appearances.
The 2024 class will provide the Braves with plenty of help as 3 year starter Chase Billiot (OF) returns along with Ryley Parker (OF) looks to play a bigger role both offensively and defensively. Southern Miss commit Cole Richardson (INF/RHP) will use his upper 80’s running fastball and plus change to stifle hitters in big games.
Another Southern Miss commit, Dylan Causey leads an impressive group of sophomores into the 2023 campaign. Causey works his fastball up to 88 mph and hit a solid .295 as a freshman. Cayden Kinmon (UT), Bryson Bey (OF/P), and Micah Coutta (OF/P) will be asked to step up and contribute as the Braves look to make a deep playoff run.
With this roster, South Jones looks to keep themselves in the hunt for the foreseeable future.
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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) |
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