MS HS Team Preview: St. Andrew's Saints
February 8, 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: St. Andrew's
Head Coach: Mark Fanning
Classification: MHSAA Class 2A
District Number: 2A, District 6
2023 Record (Finish): 23-11
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 7
Team Strengths: Lots of experience on the field. Older team with 11 seniors. Depth on the pitcher's mound and in the overall lineup.
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- 3B Walker Van Meter (2024, Meridian CC)
- CF/P Rolen Fanning (2024)
- MIF Friend Walker (2024)
- P Carter Everett (2024)
- C Blake Bell (2024)
- OF Callan Baldwin (2024)
- OF/P/1B Stone Myrick (2025)
- INF Justin Word (2026)
TEAM OUTLOOK
St. Andrews returns 8 positional starters and 7 pitchers from last seasons roster that finished 23-11 after a 3rd round loss to Clarkdale in the 3A state playoffs. Head Coach Mark Fanning believes overall experience and plenty of depth will be key factors to what could be a very special season for the Saints.
Top returners for St. Andrews are seniors Walker Van Meter (3B - Meridian CC recruit), Rosen Fanning (CF/RHP), Friend Walker (MI), Carter Everett (RHP), Blake Bell (Catcher), and Callan Baldwin (OF), along with junior Stone Myrick (OF/RHP/1B) and sophomore Justin Word (MI).
Walker Van Meter led the Saints offense in 2023, hitting .470 with 3 HR and 36 RBI’s and will be asked to repeat that production this spring. He will have plenty of help from a solid lineup that includes Rolen Fanning (.342, 36 runs scored), Friend Walker (.371, 31 RBI’s), Callan Baldwin (.400, 29 RBI’s), Stone Myrick (.392, 30 RBI’s), Blake Bell (.272, 18 RBI’s), and Justin Word (.333, 24 RBI’s). Carter Everett returns to lead the pitching staff after a very good year that saw the righty go 7-0 with a 3.02 ERA, He along with Friend Walker (4-0, 1.81 ERA) will look to hold opposing hitters at bay.
St. Andrews will begin regular season play on February 16th versus Manchester Academy.
Find more information on the 2024 St. Andrew's High School program below:
+ Follow them on X: @SASaintsBSBL
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Mississippi, 2024 HS Team Previews
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