MS HS Team Preview: Simpson County Academy Cougars
January 15, 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: Simpson County Academy
Head Coach: Kelly Greer
Classification: MAIS Class 5A
District Number: District 2 MAIS 5A
2023 Record (Finish): 34-4
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Pitching and Defense
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- RHP Colin Jenkins (2024, Pearl River CC)
- SS/RHP Barrett McKenney (2025, Missouri State)
- 3B/RHP Ben Kennedy (2025)
- CF Braden Duncan (2025)
- C/RHP Chase Adcock (2026)
MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS
Class of 2025
- INF/OF Hayes Berry (2025)
- OF Gage Smith (2025)
- UTL Kade Walker (2025)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- INF/P Wilkes Carter (2026)
- INF Rowan Atkinson (2027)
- INF/P Hayes Algee (2027)
TEAM OUTLOOK
Simpson County Academy returns 4 positional starters and 4 arms from a 2023 roster that made its way to the MAIS 5A state championship series versus eventual winner Magnolia Heights. Coach Kelly Greer lost some offensive production, but is relying on quality pitching and defense to help the Cougars in their quest of another deep playoff run.
Key returners for Simpson include senior Colin Jenkins (RHP - Pearl River CC recruit), juniors Barrett McKennney (SS/RHP - Missouri State recruit), Ben Kennedy (3B/RHP), Braden Duncan (CF), and sophomore Chase Adcock (C/RHP).
Jenkins was spectacular on the mound last season, going 10-1 with a 1.93 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 54 innings. Kennedy added a 7-1 record with a 1.91 ERA and another 40 strikeouts, while McKenney was a shut down closer, picking up 5 saves to go with his 0.40 and 30 strikeouts.
Offensively, the Cougars will turn to McKenney once again after his extremely productive 2023 in which he hit .526 with 9 home runs and drove in 56 runs. Kennedy was big at the plate as well with a .388 average with 3 homeruns and 31 RBI’s.
Coach Greer is also expecting to get production from juniors Hayes Berry (INF/OF), Gage Smith (OF), and Kade Walker (UT), sophomore Wilkes Carter (INF/P), along with freshmen Rowan Atkinson (UT/P) and Hayes Algee (INF/P).
The Cougars open up regular season play on February 8th versus Tri-County Academy.
Find more information on the 2024 SImpson County Academy program below:
+ Follow them on X: @SCACougarSports
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Mississippi, 2024 HS Team Previews
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