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.

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will be posting high school team previews every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Team: Pearl River Central

Preseason Rank: 8
2017 Record: 28-12
MHSAA Classification: 5A
MHSAA District: 7- 5A
Head Coach: Neil Walther
Playoff Run: State Finals
2017 Final Rank: 5A State Champions
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 2

 

Top Players

Name	State	School	Class	Position	Commitment
Austin Dean	MS	Pearl River Central	2019	RHP	-
Hayden Dunhurst	MS	Pearl River Central	2019	C	Mississippi
Austen Izzio	MS	Pearl River Central	2018	3B	Pearl River CC
Eli Lee	MS	Pearl River Central	2018	1B	Pearl River CC
Rigell Robinson	MS	Pearl River Central	2018	RHP	Southwest Mississippi CC
Zachary Roussell	MS	Pearl River Central	2018	OF	-
Tristan Schlottman	MS	Pearl River Central	2018	OF	-
Caleb Tynes	MS	Pearl River Central	2018	OF	-

Stat Rat (X-Factor)

Eli Lee (.389-BA, 32-RBI, 4-HR)
Zach Roussell (.361-BA, 23-RBI)
Austin Izzio (.325-BA, 21-RBI, 13-2B, 1-HR)
Tristan Schlottman (.320-BA, 17-RBI, 6-2B)
Hayden Dunhurst (.306-BA, 45-RBI, 9-2B, 10-HR)
Caleb Tynes (.267-BA, 32-RBI, 1-HR)
Rigell Robinson (2.39-ERA, 70-K, 28-BB)

Outlook

The Pearl River Central Blue Devils are coming off an amazing 28-win season that culminated with hoisting the hardware for the 5A State Championship. Coach Neil Walther's club returns a veteran lineup with headliner 2019 C/OF Hayden Dunhurstranked No. 2 in Mississippi’s 2019 class and No.31 overall. The Mississippi recruit displayed elite level tools at the Mississippi All-State Games, and is also coming off an impressive sophomore season where he recorded 45 RBI while hitting 10 homers. Currently ranked No. 28 in Mississippi’s 2018 class, 3B/OF Austen Izzio will also provide a power threat in the lineup. A confident, quick-twitch athlete, Izzio has a projectable, lean-muscular frame, and has continued to impress the scouting staff at every event he has attended. He has displayed a high-level of baseball I.Q. with a consistent approach at the plate. Bolstering the lineup will be 1B Eli Lee, OF Zach Roussell, OF Caleb Tynes and OF Tristan Schlottman.

As many offensive starters for the Blue Devils return, they have limited varsity innings on the mound, but will look to a couple of senior arms to carry the load, including Rigell Robinson, a Southwest CC recruit. Robinson had a solid showing at the Mississippi All-State Games, commanding his fastball to both sides of the plate.

All-in-all, the Blue Devils return a loaded lineup that has already experienced success, and is hungry for more. 

 

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