MS HS Team Preview: Alcorn Central Bears
January 8, 2024
The 2024 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 the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.
High School: Alcorn Central
Head Coach: Trae Bain
Classification: MHSAA 3A
District Number: 3A, District 1
2023 Record (Finish): 18-15
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Team Speed, Baserunning, More Power in the Middle of the Lineup, Pitchers getting older and more experienced.
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- UTL/RHP Andrew Williams (2024, Itawamba CC)
- CF/RHP Alex Gee (2024)
- C/RHP Noah Canten (2025)
- RHP/CIF Hunter Koehlinger (2025)
- RHP/UTL Jackson Miller (2026)
- LHP/1B/OF Jarrett Thomas (2026)
MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS
Class of 2024
- MIF Mitchell Tucker (2024)
- UTL Dylan Hicks (2024)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- MIF Jayse Johnson (2026)
TEAM OUTLOOK
Alcorn Central gained plenty of experience last season and returns 7 positional starters and 6 pitchers that contributed to an 18-15 record and a 3rd round appearance in the 3A state playoffs. Coach Trae Bain is confident that experience along with added power in the middle of the lineup and overall team speed will give his Bears a chance to advance even further into the postseason in 2024.
Top returners for the Bears will be seniors Andrew Williams (UT/RHP), and Alex Gee (CF/RHP), juniors Noah Canten (C/RHP) and Hunter Koehlinger (RHP), along with sophomores Jackson Miller (UT/RHP) and Jarret Thomas (LHP/1B).
Andrew Williams, an Itawamba CC recruit, will look to repeat a spectacular 2024 where he led the Bears at the plate with a .410 average, 8 home runs, 11 doubles, 31 stolen bases, and 34 runs batted in. He got a good bit of help from Jackson Miller who hit .404 in over 100 at bats as a freshman, while Noah Canten added 29 rbi’s which finished 2nd on the team. On the mound, sophomore lefty Jarrett Thomas will look to add to his team leading 6 wins in 2023. He will get help from Miller who added 43 strikeouts in 35 innings last season. Williams, and Hunter Koehlinger, who finished 3-0 in 20 innings, will provide even more depth for the Bears.
Coach Bain also expects to get production out of seniors Mitchell Tucker (MI) and Dylan Hicks (UT), and sophomore Jayce Johnson (MIF).
Alcorn Central begins play on February 17th versus Falkner.
Find more information on the 2024 Alcorn Central program below
+ Follow them on X: @ACBearsBSB
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Mississippi, 2024 HS Team Previews
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