2018 Team Preview: North Pike
January 24, 2018
The Mississippi high school season kicks off on February 26, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on January 29, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.
Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be rolling out team previews of high school teams all across the state and across all classifications, eventually launching our Preseason Power 25.
We have been sending out our annual Preseason Questionnaire to coaches all across the state and as the responses flood in we will bring you a snapshot of what to expect along with top players and keys to success for that particular team. If you don’t see your team’s season preview make sure your head coach fills out his Preseason Questionnaire.
Team: North Pike
MHSAA Classification: 5A
MHSAA District: 6-5A
Head Coach: George Lott III
Playoff Run: 2nd round
2017 Final Rank: 1st in district
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 3
Top Players
Name | State | School | Class | Position | Commitment |
Kole Alford | MS | North Pike | 2019 | LHP |
- |
Cade Killingsworth | MS | North Pike | 2018 | RHP | Jones County JC |
Adam Leonard | MS | North Pike | 2019 | 1B |
- |
Alijah Martin | MS | North Pike | 2020 | OF |
- |
Alex Perry | MS | North Pike | 2021 | SS |
- |
Parker Phillips | MS | North Pike | 2019 | 3B |
- |
Stat Rat (X-Factor)
Parker Phillips (.394-BA, 15-RBI, 12-2B)
Cade Killingsworth (.338-BA, 20-RBI, 7-2B)(2.60-ERA, 43-K, 16-BB)
Kole Alford (.276-BA, 20-RBI, 8-2B) (1.53-ERA, 53-K, 12-BB)
Adam Leonard (3.11-ERA, 18-K, 10-BB)
Outlook
Coach George Lott returns a solid pitching staff and a balanced lineup from a 2017 23-win season and district title. Junior left-hander Kole Alford, currently ranked No. 18 in Mississippi 2019 class, will highlight the Eagles staff that returns three arms from last year. Alford has made a velocity jump this summer and fall and will have an increased role this spring. Two-way player SS/RHP Cade Killingsworth (Jones County JC signee) will lead the infield along with juniors Parker Phillips and Adam Leonard.