Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

MS HS Team Preview: Northwest Rankin Cougars

February 3, 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: Northwest Rankin High School
Head Coach: KK Aldridge
Classification: MHSAA 7A
District Number: 7A, District 3
2023 Record (Finish): 24-7
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Pitching Depth, Overall Team Depth

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

Wes White (2024, Copiah-Lincoln CC)

Brady Saxton (2024, Northwest Florida SC)

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2024

Calvin Robinson (2024, Hinds CC)
 

Class of 2025

Chase Peeples (2025)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

Nelson Barthel (2026)

Jackson Meehan (2026)

Brooks Crawley (2026)

Deuce Jenkins (2027)

TEAM OUTLOOK

Northwest Rankin returns 3 positional starters and 4 pitchers from a roster that finished 24-7 after falling to Gulfport in the 6A South State Championship series. Coach KK Aldridge feels his pitching depth along with a deep bench will be key components for his Cougars in their quest for a successful playoff run. 

Top returners for Northwest Rankin are seniors Trey Davidson (3B), Wes White (RHP), Bryson Jones (CF/SS), and Aiden Tuura (RHP), along with juniors Brady Saxton (LHP/OF) and Gabe Hodges (RHP/OF). 

Trey Davison hit .337 last season with 4 home runs and 23 RBI’s. He along with former Future Gamer Brady Saxton (.317, 2 HR, 26 RBI’s), Gabe Hodges, and Bryson Jones will be expected to provide most of the offensive production in 2023. On the mound, Hodges (former Future Gamer) is the top returner in innings from last year with over 40 to go with his impressive 7 wins. He, along with Brady Saxton, Wes White, and Aiden Tuura should be the initial go to arms for the Cougars.

Other players Coach Aldridge expects to contribute are seniors Caleb Brooks (OF), Blake Young (OF), Amzie Cochran (RHP), Calvin Robinson (LHP), and Nash Sturdivant (RHP/1B), along with juniors Sam Oakley (OF/1B) and Chase Peeples (2B).

The Cougar program is loaded with young up and coming talent that could make an impact as early as this year. Those underclassmen include sophomores Nelson Barthel (Catcher), Jackson Meehan (RHP/SS), Noah Williams (RHP/3B), Brooks Crawley (OF - former Junior Future Gamer), Russ Ingram (RHP/1B), and freshman Deuce Jenkins (OF - former JFG). 

Northwest Rankin will begin regular season play on February 13th versus Starkville. 

Find more information on the 2024 Northwest Rankin High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @NWR_Baseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Mississippi, 2024 HS Team Previews

 

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL MISSISSIPPI THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Mississippi on X
+ Prep Baseball Mississippi on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Mississippi on Facebook

 

Related Content