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MS HS Team Preview: Heritage Academy Patriots

February 13, 2024
Matt Miller
State Director

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: Heritage Academy
Head Coach: Zander Romano
Classification: MAIS 5A
2023 Record (Finish): 19-12
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Experience, Versatile, #1 Starting Pitcher, Depth, Speed

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

Jack Ketchum (2024, Alabama)

Adyn Westmoreland (2025)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

Heritage Academy returns 8 positional starters and 6 pitchers from a roster that finished 19-12 in 2023 after a loss to Winston Academy in the MAIS state playoffs. Head Coach Zander Romano believes the depth and experience of his Patriots, along with versatility and overall team speed will be key ingredients to a successful 2024.

Top returners for Heritage Academy are seniors Jack Ketchum (RHP/INF - Alabama recruit), Tre Rainey (OF), Spencer Singley (OF/RHP), juniors Adyn Westmoreland (OF), Dalton Stripling (INF), and sophomore Charlie Fowler (C/OF/RHP). 

Jack Ketchum is back and ready to produce after a spectacular season at the plate for the Patriots, hitting .470 with 7 home runs, 11 doubles, and 41 runs batted in. He will get help from Charlie Fowler (.330), 3 HR, 26 RBI’s), Adyn Westmoreland (.311, 2 HR, 11 doubles, 22 RBI’s), Tre Rainey (.303, 2 HR, 20 RBI’s), and Dalton Stripling (.292). Ketchum will also be the go to arm for the Patriots as the hard throwing righty was 4-1 with a 1.34 ERA last season with 59 strikeouts in 36 innings. Spencer Singley (3-2, 4.11ERA) will be ready to provide quality innings as well. 

Other players Coach Romano will be expecting production from will be sophomores Cooper Long (INF/RHP), Nash McCrary (UT/RHP), and Isaiah Clark (INF/OF). 

Heritage began regular season play on February 5th with an 8-4 win over Winston Academy. They play next on February 15th versus Madison Ridgeland Academy. 

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