If you have followed anything that we have put out over the last 2-3 years you know how we (well atleast Noah) feels about this district. When you have on a yearly basis 6-7 teams that are within the top 15 that are all vying for one spot to go to Enid, as well as when they play Div 1 teams from outside their region they usually give them more then what they thought they were going to get from just some teams from Mississippi how could you not like this district.
Other than LSU-Eunice, all the teams in this region are from Mississippi which poses one interesting thing. Junior College’s from Mississippi can only have four of out of state players on their roster, Including those that are on scholarship. Which also adds to the fact that Mississippi might be the most under appreciated High School Baseball State in the country.
This region has had the Most National Championships and Championship Games over the last decade. Including the Team of the Decade in LSU-Eunice. Going into 2018, Pearl River was Ranking the #1 team as well as getting the #1 seed in Enid, unfortunately finishing tied for 3rd with Pasco-Hernando. LSU-Eunice, as Mentioned above, was the Team of the Decade. They took trips in 2018 (National Champs), 2015 (National Champs), 2013 (National Runner-Up), 2012 (National Champs), as well as a trip in 2010 (National Champs). Hinds took trips in 2017, and 2014 (National Runner-Up); Jones was the only other team to make a trip to Enid from this region with trips in 2016 (National Champs), and 2011 (National Runner-Up). So it is clear to see that this region has had success when it comes to the National State. Add with the fact that over 90% of this region is from the state of Mississippi again that state is arguably one of the best High School states for Baseball.
When it comes to the talent that is in this region this year we are not quite sure where to begin. From top to bottom this is a talent rich standpoint, then you add what this year has brought with more talent ending up at schools that you did not think it would end up at this region is one of the deepest at any level:
Copiah-Lincoln’s- Peyton Parker
East Central’s- Jesse Boydstun, and Amani Larry
Hind’s-Pablo Lanzarote, Connor Carter, Bryce Brock, and Matt Corder
Holmes’- Cole Drake
Itawamba’s- Ben Fryer, Tyler Murphy, and Lane Domino
Jones County’s- Dalton Rogers, Deejay Booth, Hunter Leblanc, and Hunter French
LSU-Eunice’s- Jacob Hammond, Hunter Tabb, Jack Merrifield, and Jerry Couch
Meridian’s- JT Ethridge and Choyce Diffey
Mississippi Gulf Coast’s- Hayden Robb and Antonie Harris
Northeast Mississippi- Jacob Compton, Cole Phillips, and Bryan Seaman
Pearl River’s- Landon Harper, Graham Crawford, Austen Izzio, Tate Parker, and Leif Moore