The 2025 Mississippi high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound 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 at Pearl’s Trustmark Park, in the State Tournament finals at the end of May, 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, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

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 and updating the Power 25 rankings.

Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Hernando
Head Coach: Taylor Karr
MHSAA Classification: MHSAA 7A
District Number: 7A, District 1
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 26-8 (State Runner-Up)

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

+ No. Returning Positional Starters: 5+ 4-5 with innings from last year
+ No. Returning Pitchers: 9+
+ Key Returners:

• UTL/RHP Preston Johnson (2025, NWCC)
• 1B/OF Luke Romine (2025, Ole Miss)
• INF Josh Peña (2025, NWCC)
• UTL/RHP Connor Young (2025, NWCC)
• 1B/RHP Landon Holmes (2025)

More Names to Know

2025s:

• LHP/OF Jase Jordan (2025)
• RHP/OF Hudson Denley (2025)
• OF/LHP Jonathan Phillips (2025)

2026s:

• OF/1B/RHP Cade Koczka (2026, NWCC)
• INF/RHP Brannon Kirkpatrick (2026)
• RHP Garrett McGee (2026)
• LHP Cole Stanfill (2026)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

• OF/RHP Eli Bagley (2027)
• INF/RHP Bran Overstreet (2027)
• RHP/INF Lucas McBride (2027)
• C Blake Lipe (2027)
• OF Donavan Dickson (2027)
• RHP/OF Asher Lawson (2028)
• RHP/CINF Caden Shackelford (2028)
• LHP/OF/1B Axton Westmoreland (2028)

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2025 OUTLOOK

+ Hernando enters the 2025 season with championship aspirations after last year’s impressive 26-8 campaign, which ended in the 7A State Championship runner-up finish to Brandon at Trustmark Park. With five positional starters and an incredible nine returning pitchers—part of a deep staff that could see up to 15 arms contribute—Head Coach Taylor Karr is confident in the Tigers’ ability to make another run at the title.

Hernando’s lineup is anchored by senior Luke Romine (1B/DH/OF, Ole Miss signee), who put together a dominant 2024 season, hitting .359 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs. He’ll be a key run producer once again, supported by seniors Preston Johnson (UT/RHP, Northwest MS CC signee), Jose Peña (INF, Northwest MS CC signee), Connor Young (UT/RHP, Northwest MS CC signee), and Landon Holmes (1B/RHP). Koczka (18 RBIs), Johnson (17 RBIs), and Peña (15 RBIs) will help solidify an already potent offense.

On the mound, Romine, Holmes, and Johnson bring valuable experience in high-leverage situations, providing a strong foundation for a deep and versatile pitching staff.

Additional key contributors include seniors Jase Jordan (LHP/OF), Hudson Denley (RHP/OF), and Jonathan Phillips (OF/LHP), juniors Cade Koczka (OF/1B), Brannon Kirkpatrick (INF/RHP), Garrett McGee (RHP), and Cole Stanfill (LHP), as well as a talented sophomore group featuring Eli Bagley (OF/RHP), Bran Overstreet (INF/RHP), Lucas McBride (RHP/INF), and Blake Lipe (C).

Hernando opens its season on February 11th against Madison Ridgeland Academy, determined to make another trip to Pearl and bring home the 7A crown.

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Find more information on Hernando’s 2025 season below:

+ Find more 2025 team previews on our MHSAA Season Preview page

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