The Mississippi high school season kicks off on February 26, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on January 29, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will be posting high school team previews every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Team: DeSoto Central

Preseason Rank: 6
2017 Record: 24-9
MHSAA Classification: 6A
MHSAA District:
Head Coach: Mark Monaghan
Playoff Run: North State Finals
2017 Final Rank:
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 3

 

Top Players

Name	State	School	Class	Position	Commitment
Kyle Booker	MS	DeSoto Central	2020	OF	Tennessee
Hamp Houston	MS	Desoto Central	2018	LHP	Meridian CC
Kamren James	MS	DeSoto Central	2019	SS	Mississippi State
Blaze Jordan	MS	DeSoto Central	2021	3B	Mississippi State
Terris Meeks	MS	DeSoto Central	2019	OF	-
Peyton Mills	MS	Desoto Central	2018	2B	Northwest CC
Gabe Moore	MS	DeSoto Central	2019	RHP	-
Cade Smith	MS	DeSoto Central	2020	RHP	Mississippi State
Mathew Taylor	MS	Desoto Central	2018	RHP	East Mississippi

Stat Rat (X-Factor)

Blaze Jordan (29-PA, .517-BA, 11-RBI, 2-2B, 2-HR)
Hunter French (46-PA, .400-BA, 7-RBI, 2-2B, 2-3B)
Jacob Compton (52-PA, .357-BA, 7-RBI, 5-2B)
Kameron James (84-PA, .357-BA, 9-RBI, 4-2B)
Peyton Mills (66-PA, .294-BA, 12-RBI, 4-2B, 1-HR)
Matthew Taylor ( 45.2-IP, 1.07-ERA, 56-K, 24-BB)
Hamp Houston (18.2-IP, 4.12-ERA, 27-K, 13-BB)
Gabe Moore (11-IP, 3.82-ERA, 9-K, 4-BB)

Outlook

The Jaguars return a young but loaded lineup and deep pitching staff from a team that won 24 games in 2017. DeSoto Central is packed with young talent all of which should see increased time on the field throughout the 2018 campaign.  2018 RHP Matthew Taylor will be the most experienced on the staff returning from a season where he logged 45 innings and 54 strikeouts. An East Mississippi recruit, Taylor has displayed solid feel for three pitches, throwing in the low/mid 80's with his fastball. Meridian recruit, LHP Hamp Houston will also make a big impact in the rotation when he returns from a broken hand injury as he recorded 18 innings on the mound with 27 strikeouts flashing a wipeout slider. 2020 Cade Smith, a Mississippi State recruit, should also step into an increased role on the mound running his fastball into the upper 80's.

The lineup is just as strong for the Jaguars with seniors Alex Russell (Itawamba CC recruit) and Peyton Mills (Northwest CC recruit) providing strong leadership to an otherwise young lineup. 2019 Kameron James, a Mississippi State recruit, will provide rock solid defense at short and will also see time on the mound this year for the Jaguars. Two more Division 1 recruits, Blaze Jordan (Mississippi State recruit) and Kyle Booker (Tennessee recruit) should bolster an already strong lineup. Jordan, currently ranked No. 2 Overall in the 2021 class, has dominated pitchers in all classes throughout his young career. Booker, No. 15 in Mississippi 2020 class has displayed solid bat speed, quality athleticism, combined with arm strength that could be tough for opposing teams.

Overall, DeSoto Central has the pitching staff, offensive skill and defense to make a strong run in 2018.

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