MS HS Team Preview: Biloxi Indians
January 20, 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: Biloxi High School
Head Coach: Hawtin Buchanan
Classification: MHSAA 7A
District Number: 7A, District 4
2023 Record (Finish): 22-7
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3
Team Strengths: Team speed on offense, consistent contact at the plate throughout the lineup, and can really defend. Plus return 2 of 3 division starters on the mound.
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- RHP/SS Logan Fontenelle (2024, Pearl River CC)
- C Robbie Hokamp (2024, Southwest Mississippi CC)
- 1B/RHP Judson Byars (2024)
- LHP Will Miles (2024)
- RHP Shawn Gollott (2025)
TOP UPPERCLASSMEN
- INF/IF Chase DeLaughter (2024)
- OF Forrest Wold (2024)
- C/3B Will Parker (2025)
- 3B/RHP Wyatt Pyron (2025)
- OF/RHP Jeremiah Moss (2025)
- OF Tristain Haynes (2025)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- INF/RHP Connor Lofton (2026)
- UTL/LHP Jordon May (2026)
TEAM OUTLOOK
Biloxi returns 4 positional starters and 3 arms from a roster that went 22-7 a year ago. Coach Hawtin Buchanan is confident superior defensive play, speed on offense, and two frontline starters will be key ingredients to a successful season for his Bulldogs.
Top returners for Biloxi are seniors Logan Fontenelle (RHP/SS), Robbie Hokamp (Catcher), Judson Byars (1B/RHP), Will Miles (LHP), and junior Shawn Gollott (RHP).
Fontenelle was dynamic for the Bulldogs in 2023, finishing with a .416 average, 12 doubles, 28 runs batted in, along with 36 stolen bases. He also got it done on the mound going 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA and 91 strikeouts in just 57 innings. More offensive production will come from Judson Byars who led the team with 32 RBI’s and Robbie Hokamp who hit over .300 last season. Along with Fontenelle, Will Miles (2.33 ERA in 2023) and Shawn Gollott (2.19 ERA) will be key arms in 2024.
Other players Coach Buchanan expects to contribute will be seniors Chase DeLaughter (INF/OF) and Forrest Wold (OF), juniors Will Parker (C/3B), Wyatt Pyron (3B/RHP), Jeremiah Moss (OF/RHP), and Tristain Haynes (OF), and sophomores Connor Lofton (INF/RHP) and Jordan May (LHP/INF/OF).
Biloxi opens regular season play on February 15th verse West Harrison.
Find more information on the 2024 Biloxi High School program below:
+ Follow them on X: @BiloxiIndiansBB
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Mississippi, 2024 HS Team Previews
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