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: Forest High School 

Coach’s Name: Adam Tumey 

Classification: MHSAA 3A 

2022 Record: 9-13

District Number: 3A, District 5 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 7 

Team Strengths: Pitching, Aggressive Baserunning, Mature Group

Top Returning Players:

• C/RHP Jayden Adcox (East Central CC)
• RHP/SS Kolten Durkes
• RHP/INF Tre Adcox
• RHP/OF Avery Bufkin
• UTL Reagen Tadlock
• 1B Cade Tillman

Top 2023 Prospects:

• OF Vencheal Parks

Top 2024 Prospects:

• 1B/LHP Martin Wences Jr.

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• UTL Ty Chambers

Team Outlook:

Coach Adam Tumey is hoping the abundance of arms on the 2023 roster will result in a trip back to the 3A state playoffs after an absence in 2022. The Bearcats return 6 positional starters and 7 pitchers from last years 9-13 squad and should be fairly competitive. 

Senior Jayden Adcox, an East Central CC recruit, will be expected to lead a fairly young, though experienced group into the spring. Adcox can do tons of damage to opposing pitchers as the catcher/corner infielder has some of the highest exit velocity readings in the state with a 102 mph personal best. Carrying a fastball in the mid 80s to the mound, he will also be asked to provide plenty of quality innings in big games for Forest this season. 

Other returners include juniors Kolten Durkes (SS/RHP) who Coach Tumey says is a “dirtbag type player that just competes”, Avery Bufkin (OF/RHP), Cade Tillman (1B), and Martin Wences Jr. (1B/LHP). Senior Vencheal Parks (OF) will also be asked to contribute as well. 

Underclassmen that will play a role in the Bearcats success this year will be sophomores Reagan Tadlock (C/INF/RHP), Ty Chambers (UT/RHP), and 8th grader Tre Adcox (INF/RHP). Adcox is one of the top 2027 players on the rise and was a member of Team Mississippi at this past summer’s Junior Future Games in Atlanta. 

 

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