Craig Bass, Loyd Star

A senior, Bass led Loyd Star in innings pitched this season after stepping into the role of starter from being a reliever previously in his career. Threw 53 innings for a 22-8-1 Loyd Star team and struck out 68 batters. Finished with a 3.962 earned runs average in 10 starts and 17 pitching appearances for coach Jared Britt as the Hornets won Region 7-2A and made the third round of the MHSAA playoffs.

Brent Boutwell, Wesson

A senior, Boutwell was one of the most prolific hitters in the area and the state this season while playing outfield for the Cobras. Posted a .603 average at the plate for a 16-9 Wesson team. Drove in 40 RBIs while hitting seven doubles, three triples and three home runs for coach Vance Windom. A Southwest Mississippi CC signee, Boutwell also stole eight bases while being named All-Region and MAC First Team All-State.  He made seven pitching appearances, had a 3.57 ERA and was also picked for the Crossroads Diamond Club All-Star Game.

Easton Boyte, Brookhaven Academy

A junior, Boyte again excelled at the plate and on the mound for the Cougars. Put up a .368 batting average at the plate while pitching and playing in the infield for a 26-11 Brookhaven Academy team. Boyte drove in 36 runs while hitting five doubles, one triple and four home runs for coach Caleb Upton. A repeat All-Area selection had a team best 1.78 earned runs average while striking out 52 batters in 59 innings for a BA team that made the MAIS 5A semifinals.

Matthew Burns, Enterprise

A senior, Burns was the motor that made the Yellow Jackets go in 2022 as a pitcher, catcher and jack-of-all trades. At the plate, he hit for a .317 average and drove in 19 RBIs for a 11-10-1 Enterprise team. The speedy Burns stole 31 bases and legged out three doubles for coach Josh Garrett. Pitched a team high 39.1 innings and went 7-0 on the mound with 65 strikeouts and a 4.06 earned runs average. A repeat All-Area selection in baseball, Burns was also picked for the All-Area team in football as a quarterback.

Kannon Cato, Lawrence County

A sophomore, Cato is one of the swiftest players in the area and the state on the diamond as an outfielder for the Cougars. He posted a .321 average at the dish for a 6-15-1 Lawrence County team. Drove in 11 runs while hitting a triple and a home run. Stole 17 bases for coach Seth Avants in a tough 4A region that included eventual state champs Sumrall. A repeat All-Area selection in baseball, he was also named to the All-Area team in football this year as a defensive back.

Riley Easterling, Loyd Star

A senior, Easterling was a cornerstone of the success experienced by the Hornets this season. Hit a team best .406 at the plate for a 22-8-1 Loyd Star team while pitching and playing shortstop. Smacked eight doubles, one triple and four home runs for coach Jared Britt. An MAC Second Team All-State selection, Easterling drew 22 walks, stole 13 bases, drove in 33 runs and struck out just eight times in 2022. A Co-Lin baseball signee, he went 5-0 in pitching appearances and struck out a team high 74 batters while posting a 1.37 ERA in 51 innings. A repeat All-Area selection, he was his team’s MVP in the Crossroads Diamond Club All-Star Game.

Casen DeHart, Loyd Star

A junior, DeHart again used a combination of speed and grit to live on the basepaths to the frustration of opposing teams. Put up a .370 average at the plate for a 22-8-1 Loyd Star team. Drove in 21 runs for coach Jared Britt and a Hornet team that won Region 7-2A in dominating fashion. A catcher, he hit 16 doubles and was named MAC First Team All-State. DeHart stole a team high 40 bases and was All-Area Offensive MVP last season as a sophomore.

Trevor Fortenberry, Brookhaven Academy

A junior, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Fortenberry was a versatile weapon for the Cougar offense in 2022. Posted a .347 average at the plate for a 26-11 Brookhaven Academy team. Fortenberry hit six doubles and two homeruns, for coach Caleb Upton. Abel to play infield or outfield, he drove in 30 RBIs and stole 21 bases for a BA team that made the final four of the MAIS 5A field. Fortenberry has also been tabbed as an All-Area selection in football and basketball during his career.

Tyler Fortenberry, Brookhaven Academy

A senior, Fortenberry bounced back after missing part of last season with an injury to become an impact player on the diamond for the Cougars this year. Hit for a .300 average while hitting five doubles and five homeruns for coach Caleb Upton and a 26-11 BA team. Drove in 22 runs and stole nine bases while possessing the ability to play in the infield or outfield. Fortenberry was picked as All-Area MVP in both football and basketball this year and has signed with Co-Lin CC football as a quarterback.

Avery Griffin, Brookhaven Academy

A sophomore, Griffin did a little bit of everything to make Brookhaven Academy better in 2022. Griffin possess a smooth glove as an infielder and showed a knack for getting on base for a 26-11 BA team. Finished with a .378 batting average at the plate while driving in 33 runs and hitting five doubles. Led the Cougars with 22 stolen bases this season. A right-handed pitcher, he threw 36.2 innings and went 6-2 on the mound for BA. Struck out 52 batters and finished with a 4.20 ERA for coach Caleb Upton.

Judson Griffin, Brookhaven Academy

A junior, Griffin was the bell-cow of the Cougar pitching staff this season to lead his team on the mound. Threw a team high 69 innings for a 26-11 Brookhaven Academy team. Finished 8-4 in 13 starts for coach Caleb Upton while ending the season with a 1.92 earned runs average. A southpaw, he struck out a team high 82 batters in 2022. A corner outfielder when not pitching, Griffin posted a .323 batting average, hit five doubles, two home runs and drove in 16 runs for a BA team that won its district.

Dawson Hester, Loyd Star

A senior, Hester was limited in his pitcher appearances by an upper body injury in 2022, but he still used his bat to help lead the Hornets to another region title and a 22-8-1 record. Hit for a .295 average at the plate and was second on the team with 26 runs driven in. The All-Area Defensive MVP last year, Hester hit seven doubles, two home runs and drew a team high 24 walks for coach Jared Britt. A first baseman, he was picked to play in the Crossroads Diamond Club All-Star Game along with being named All-Region. A two-time state champion for the Loyd Star golf team, he’s signed to play golf next year at Meridian CC.

Will Loy, Wesson

A junior, Loy provided a strong arm behind the plate for the Cobra defense as a catcher. At the plate he put up a .262 batting average and drove in 26 RBIs for 16-9 Wesson team. Hit a team best eight doubles for coach Vance Windom. In 24.1 innings pitched, he struck out 27 batters for the Cobras. Loy has been named to multiple All-Area teams as a quarterback for Wesson football where he’s thrown for over 7,000 career yards thus far.

Jake Meilstrup, Brookhaven High

A junior, Meilstrup had a game-winning hit that will live on for a long time in the memory of Ole Brook baseball fans. He posted a .538 average at the plate that included a go-ahead single that beat West Jones and gave Brookhaven High the region title. A leadoff batter and outfielder, he drove in 14 runs for a 13-7 Brookhaven High team. Hit one triple and only struck out four times all season for coach Matt White. The speedy Meilstrup stole a team high 19 bases and also made eight pitching appearances for the Panthers.

Brayden Polk, Enterprise

A senior, Polk played a little bit of everything in his high school career for the Yellow Jackets and finished his ball playing days at the school up with a strong senior season on the diamond. Polk produced a .390 average at the plate for a 11-10-1 Enterprise team that made the second round of the MHSAA 1A playoffs. He drove in a team high 21 RBIs, while hitting four doubles, three triples and one homerun. A shortstop, he also stole 22 bases for coach Josh Garrett. Polk was an All-Area selection in football for EAC and also played hoops for the Yellow Jackets.

Felder Sartin, Bogue Chitto

A senior, Sartin led the Bobcats in almost every statistical category this season for both hitting and pitching. At the plate, he put up a .382 batting average for a 13-17 Bogue Chitto team that reached the second round of the MHSAA 2A playoffs. A catcher when not pitching, Sartin hit seven doubles, three triples and three home runs this season while driving in 32 runs. The son of BC coach Gareth Sartin, he threw a team high 45.1 innings and started 11 games on the mound for the Bobcats. He struck out 49 batters and posted a 2.16 ERA as a pitcher in 2022.

Gabe Selman, Wesson

A junior, Selman was one of the best arms in a deep bullpen for the Cobras in 2022. A right-hander who also plays in the infield, he threw a team high 31.1 innings for a 16-9 Wesson team. Selman struck out 27 in nine appearances for coach Vance Windom on the mound. Finished with a 3.57 ERA and also drove in 17 runs at the plate for a Wesson team that was runners-up in Region 7-3A.

Blake Thornton, Loyd Star

A junior, Thornton plays the game with intensity and effort as a tone-setting infielder for the Hornets. He put up a .265 batting average at the plate for coach Jared Britt and a 22-8-1 Loyd Star team. Thornton drove in 24 runs and hit eight doubles, one triple and stole 11 bases for a Loyd Star squad that finished unbeaten in Region 7-2A and made the MHSAA 2A quarterfinals.

Brandon Welch, Bogue Chitto

A senior, the steadfast presence of Welch in the Bobcat lineup will be missed with his graduation. At the plate, he batted for a .355 average on a 13-17 Bogue Chitto team. A leadoff batter and second baseman, he drove in 26 runs while hitting three doubles. Welch drew 21 walks for a Bobcat team that finished as Region 7-2A runners-up under head coach Gareth Sartin. He also led the team with 28 stolen bases in 2022.

Caden White, Wesson

A senior, White stepped up in a big way to help lead the Wesson pitching staff in a playoff season for the Cobras. Pitched 29 innings for a 16-9 Wesson team in 2022. Sported a team best 2.17 earned runs average on the season and finished 5-2 in eight pitching appearances. Struck out 43 and gave up just nine earned runs for coach Vance Windom. Played first base when not pitching and batted for a .364 average while hitting five doubles and driving in 17 runs on the season.