MS HS Team Preview: Oxford Chargers
February 2, 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: Oxford High School
Head Coach: Cade Hoggard
Classification: MHSAA 7A
District Number: 7A, District 1
2023 Record (Finish): 23-11
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Offense, Return all but two every day guys in the line up. Some guys who had OK years last year have looked better this fall, should help provide depth in lineup.
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- SS Reid Kent (2024, Itawamba CC)
- INF/RHP Brady Stinnett (2024, Ole Miss)
- UTL/P Thomas Rayburn (2024)
- UTL/RHP Jack Gaia (2024)
- OF Sam Roy (2024, Holmes CC)
- 1B Jack Harper (2024)
- INF Carson Schmelzer (2024)
- LHP Barrett Kamman (2025)
- OF James Blackwood (2026)
MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS
Class of 2025
- C Sharpe Smith (2025)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- RHP Josh Scruggs (2026)
- UTL/RHP Ford Wade (2027)
TEAM OUTLOOK
Oxford returns 6 positional starters and 6 pitchers from last years roster that finished 23-11 after a 3rd round loss in the 6A state playoffs to eventual champion Lewisburg. Head Coach Cade Hoggard believes offensive depth should allow his Chargers to be very competitive and if an arm or two steps up things could get very interesting in 2024.
Top returners for Oxford include seniors Reid Kent (SS - Itawamba CC recruit), Brady Stinnett (INF/RHP - Ole Miss recruit), Thomas Rayburn (UT/P), Jack Gaia (UT/P), Sam Roy (OF - Holmes CC recruit), Jack Harper (1B), and Carson Schmelzer (INF/OF), junior Barrett Kamman (LHP), and sophomore James Blackwood (OF).
Reid Kent carried a hot bat with him in 2023, hitting .431 with 3 home runs while driving in a team leading 44 runs. He will be expected to lead the charge this spring with help from Thomas Rayburn (.337, 2HR, 35 RBI’s), and Brady Stinnett (.309, 4 HR, 25 RBI’s). Stinnett (4-1, 3.34 ERA, 67 K’s) along with Barrett Kamman (4-3, 3.65 ERA, 47 K’s) will lead the staff on the mound while Jack Gaia, Rayburn, Josh Scruggs, and a few others should offer quality relief.
Other players Coach Hoggard will look to for added production are junior Sharpe Smith (C), sophomore Josh Scruggs (RHP), and freshman Ford Wade (C/INF/RHP).
The Chargers begin regular season play on February 13th versus Kirk Academy.
Find more information on the 2024 Oxford High School program below:
+ Follow them on X: @OxfordBaseball1
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Mississippi, 2024 HS Team Previews
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+ Prep Baseball Mississippi on X
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