MS HS Team Preview: Tupelo Christian Eagles
February 10, 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: Tupelo Christian Preparatory School (TCPS)
Head Coach: Andrew Herrington
Classification: MHSAA 1A
District Number: 1A, District 2
2023 Record (Finish): 15-14
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Team Strengths: Experience, returning a lot of bats, plus returning #1, #4, and #5 arms from last year. Leadership will be much better this year as well.
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- SS/OF Kaden Whitlock (2024)
- OF/P Brewer Bailey (2024)
- INF/P Cullen Hobby (2025)
- INF/P Jeb Brown (2025)
- P/INF Thomas Goralczyk (2025)
- C/INF/P Matthew McDaniel (2026)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- P/CINF Jax Coker (2026)
- MIF/OF Brooks Bresee (2026)
- OF/P Hayden Pannell (2026)
- P/INF Jack Decker (2027)
- INF/C/P Dawson Ward (2027)
TEAM OUTLOOK
Tupelo Christian Prep returns 5 positional starters and 5 pitchers from last years roster that finished 15-14 after a 2nd round loss to Hickory Flat in the 1A state playoffs. Head Coach Andrew Herrington has 3 key arms from last year, several solid bats, and plenty of experience gained, which are all keys in hopes for a competitive 2024 season.
Top returners for the Eagles include seniors Kaden Whitlock (SS/OF), Brewer Bailey (OF/LHP), juniors Cullen Hobby (INF/RHP), Jeb Brown (INF/RHP), Thomas Goralczyk (RHP/INF), and sophomore Matthew McDaniel (C/INF/RHP).
Jeb Brown (.409), Kaden Whitlock (.355), and Cullen Hobby (.333) all hilt over .300 last season and will look to add even more production this spring. On the mound, Thomas Goralczyk led all returners in innings from last season. He along with Brewer Bailey, Cullen Hobby, Jeb Brown, and Matthew McDaniel will look to hold opposing teams at bay as the offense goes to work.
Underclassmen looking to make an impact are sophomores Jax Coker (RHP/CI), Brooks Bresee (MI/OF), Hayden Pannell (OF/RHP), and freshmen Jack Decker (RHP/INF), Dawson Ward (INF/C/RHP).
Tupelo Christian Prep begins regular season play on February 15th versus New Site.
Find more information on the 2024 Tupelo Christian Preparatory School (TCPS) program below:
+ Follow them on X: @TCPSBSB
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Mississippi, 2024 HS Team Previews
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