The 2023 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 that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

 

High School Name: Houston High School

Coach’s Name: Gary-Scott Gabbert

Classification: MHSAA 4A

2022 Record: 8-18

District Number: District 2

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6

No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

Team Strengths: Versatile group

Top Returning Players:

• UTL Steele Brooks
• 1B/P Button Lakes
• C/RHP Rob Hancock
• INF Cason Moss

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• UTL Adam Smith
• UTL Cameron Kilgore
• UTL JJ McCoy
• UTL Walker Burdine

Team Outlook:

The Houston Hilltoppers return 6 positional starters and 3 arms from last season’s 8-18 team and also find themselves with a new leader as Gary-Scott Gabbert takes the reigns as Head Coach. Gabbert feels his squads versatility will help them compete in 2023 as a fairly young group gains valuable playing experience. 

Top returners for Houston include senior Button Lakes (1B/RHP), junior Steele Brooks (C/INF/RHP), and sophomores Rob Hancock (C/RHP) and Cason Moss (INF). Coach Gabbert says Brooks will play an important role both on the mound and at the plate for the Hilltoppers, while Lakes will be expected to provide some much needed senior leadership. Both Hancock and Moss will be looked at as key components for run production in 2023. 

Several underclassmen are on the way and should gain much needed in-game experience this spring. They include Adam Smith (UTL), Cameron Kilgore (UTL), JJ McCoy (UTL), and Walker Burdine (UTL). 

As these players continue to develop look for Houston to become more competitive in the foreseeable future within the 4A class. 

 

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