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: Ripley High School 

Coach’s Name: Joel Gafford 

Classification: MHSAA 4A 

2022 Record: 15-10

District Number: District 1 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 2 

Team Strengths: Returning a pair of main arms.

Top Returning Players:

• SS/RHP Ty Long (Southern Miss)
• RHP/C Cooper Davis

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects: 

• INF/C Jack Fortune
• INF/C Ryan Scott

Team Outlook:

The Tigers find themselves in a bit of a rebuilding phase this season with plenty of new faces roaming the clubhouse. Coming off a 15 win season they do however maintain their two top arms and  positional starters. 

Dual threat and Southern Miss commit Ty Long will swallow up the ground balls at shortstop while providing run production near the front end of the lineup. Catcher Cooper Davis, another college prospect though still uncommitted, adds more pop in the heart of the order. Both Long ad Davis will also be "go to” arms for the Tigers during big game action this coming spring. 

Underclassmen expected to take big steps this season for the Tigers include sophomore Jack Fortune and freshman Ryan Scott. Fortune handled most of the DH duties last season but will be asked to play numerous positions this season while hitting near the top of the order. Scott, an infielder, will be asked to play a big role both offensively and defensively.

With plenty of youth look for Ripley to make some noise very soon at the 4A level. 

 

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