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: Itawamba Agricultural High School
Head Coach: Steve Kerr
MHSAA Classification: MHSAA 4A
District Number: 4A Region 1
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 19-9 (Eliminated Second Round)

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

+ No. Returning Positional Starters: 7
+ No. Returning Pitchers: 6
+ Key Returners:

• LHP/OF Cayden Prestage (2026)
• LHP/OF Cooper Waddle (2025, Southern Miss)
• C John Austin Wood (2025, North Alabama)
• SS/RHP Carson Shells (2025)

More Names to Know

2026s:

• RHP Aidan Strong (2026)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

• RHP/INF Ashton Hoots (2027)

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2025 OUTLOOK

+ Itawamba AHS heads into the 2025 season returning six positional starters and five pitchers from last year’s team that finished 19-9 before falling in the second round of the 4A State Playoffs. Head Coach Steve Kerr sees the pitching staff and overall team speed as key elements in the Indians’ pursuit of a deep postseason run.

Leading the way for Itawamba AHS are seniors Cooper Waddle (LHP/OF, Southern Miss signee and Future Gamer), John Austin Wood (C, North Alabama signee), and Carson Shells (SS/RHP). Junior Cayden Prestage (LHP/OF, Future Gamer) will also play a vital role in both the lineup and on the mound.

Other key contributors for the Indians include junior Aiden Strong (RHP) and sophomore Ashton Hoots (RHP/3B), who will add depth to the rotation and provide valuable innings throughout the season.

Itawamba AHS will begin regular season play on February 11th against New Hope, looking to set the tone for a promising 2025 campaign.

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Find more information on Itawamba Agricultural High School’s 2025 season below:

+ Follow them on X: @iahs_baseball
+ Find more 2025 team previews on our MHSAA Season Preview page

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