Meet the Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Baseball Team for the 2025 season
South Mississippi is one of the country’s most underrated breeding grounds for baseball talent.
The 2025 season was another example, producing a number of upperclassmen ready to take on the next stage and numerous underclassmen already performing at a high level.
East Central’s Bo Long is as elite a playoff motivator as any, and he earns Coach of the Year for guiding the Hornets back to the South State series. Hunter Harper is the newest Sun Herald Player of the Year after an exceptional season and Long Beach’s Wayne Ulrich earned the fan’s vote for top player. Rounding out the awards is Reese Parker from West Harrison, as Underclassmen of the Year.
Here’s the full 2025 All-South Mississippi baseball team.
Coach of the Year
Bo Long, East Central
East Central began the season with a 5-11 mark, including a three-game sweep at the hands of its rival Vancleave. But the Hornets would switch gears. Beginning with a district sweep of Stone, East Central won 15 of its final 20 games and made a run back to the South State title series.
Long’s crew ended the regular season on an eight game win streak before a gutsy postseason run commenced. East Central immediately face elimination after dropping the first round opener to North Pike, but pulled off the reverse sweep to advance. It then did the same to Florence after going down in extra innings to start the series.
The turnaround secured the program’s 14th consecutive winning season.
Player of the Year
Hunter Harper, Vancleave
Harper played running back on the gridiron, but used his arm on the diamond to assert himself as one of the state’s best pitchers. The second-team Mississippi Association of Coaches All State selection had a 1.42 ERA across 59 innings pitched for the Bulldogs with 53 strikeouts.
Harper also notched 39 hits and drove in 37 runs. He leaves Vancleave with a career ERA of 1.89 over 211 total innings. Harper improved on that stat each season since recording a 3.18 ERA as a freshman.
Fan’s Choice Player of the Year
Wayne Ulrich, Long Beach
Ulrich earned over 18,800 votes on his way to becoming the fan’s pick for Player of the Year. One of the top seniors on the Coast, Ulrich hit safely 33 times with eight doubles and two home runs. He picked up 29 RBIs, while also putting together a 2.50 ERA on the mound.
Jaxon Cripps of East Central finished second in the ballot with 11,000 votes cast his way. D’Iberville’s Carter Naron came in third with 6,000 votes.
Underclassman of the Year
Reese Parker, West Harrison
Parker has yet to attend class at West Harrison High School, but he’s already proven himself as one of South Mississippi’s brightest young talents following his eighth grade season. Parker displayed rare power for his age with 15 extra base hits, including five triples and two home runs.
Parker scored 35 times and heads into high school with 73 career hits already logged through two seasons.
Sun Herald Starting Nine
These were South Mississippi’s best softball players, regardless of position.
- Jaxon Cripps, East Central: Cripps batted .392 with 38 RBIs and 32 runs scored. He totaled 38 hits and had an OPS of 1.210 while landing on the MAC all state second team.
- Preston McAdory, George County: The MAC All Star constructed a 1.41 ERA while cutting down 99 batters in 69.1 innings. McAdory is a first team all state pick and a Pearl River Community College signee.
- Jack Jordan, Ocean Springs: The ace dominated with 57 strikeouts in 67 innings with a 1.99 ERA. Jordan also tallied 33 hits with 10 extra base hits and 25 RBIs and was a named first team all state.
- Brendan Necaise, Pass Christian: Necaise toed the rubber and gunned down 100 batters over 63 innings of 2.32 ERA ball. The all state first-teamer also contributed with 28 hits and 26 RBIs.
- Cooper Moreaux, Picayune: The Pearl River C.C. commit put together what may have been the best all-around offensive season on the Coast. Moreaux led South MS with a 1.411 OPS on 48 total hits.
Brock Sheppard, Poplarville: The senior led the Hornets with a 1.256 OPS behind 11 extra base hits out of 33 total. Sheppard was a first team all state selection.
- Wiley Mossy, St. Stanislaus: A first team all-state choice, Mossy led the Coast with 11 home runs. The junior made 24 of his 35 hits for extra bases and slugged .776 on the year.
- Hunter Harper, Vancleave: Harper complimented his work on the mound with a 1.008 OPS at the plate with three homes and 27 runs scored.
- Reese Parker, West Harrison: The youngest on the list of the Coast’s best, Parker’s second varsity season saw him bat north of .400 and lead the Hurricanes in every major offensive statistic.
Sun Herald Rising Stars
These are the Coast’s top underclassmen and the stars of tomorrow.
Adam Ruggs, Biloxi: Rugg tallied a team-high 31 hits with eight for extra bases. He led the Indians across the slash line as a sophomore and OPS’d 1.068 for the year.
Grant Reeves, George County: Reeves batted .312 with 24 RBIs and 24 runs while posting a .964 OPS as a sophomore.
Taevion Collier, Gulfport: The freshman earned 34.2 innings on the mound and turned in a 1.82 ERA with 41 strikeouts.
Kendall Blevins, Picayune: Blevins struck out 40 batters as a freshman, working a 2.69 ERA over 41.2 innings.
Ty Keys, Poplarville: The sophomore is a four star prospect on the gridiron and a problem on the diamond, stealing a Coast-high 33 bases and posting a .966 OPS. He also pitched 24 innings, striking out 28.
Jasper Moran, St. Patrick: Moran’s sophomore season saw him drive in 35 runs on 33 hits and 13 extra base knocks.
Ayden Dartez, St. Stanislaus: Dartez was one of the Coast’s most consistent batters as a sophomore, recording 44 hits with an on base percentage of .504.
Jackson Orozco, St. Stanislaus: Orozco is emerging as a top arm in the area after constructing a 1.90 ERA in 55.1 innings as a freshman.
Reese Parker, West Harrison: Parker comes from a baseball family and has already drawn the eyes of next-level scouts.
All-South Mississippi Team
- Will Parker, Biloxi: The senior batted .341 with a .927 OPS and drove in 18 runs while scoring 17 himself.
- Shawn Gollott, Biloxi: Gollott tossed 56 innings as a senior, striking out 51 batters and working an ERA of 2.62.
- Carter Naron, D’Iberville: Naron recorded 35 hits at the plate and put together a 2.04 ERA in 34.1 innings from the mound.
- Jaylen Johnson, D’Iberville: Johnson matched Naron’s 35 hits while scoring a team-high 20 runs.
- Anthony Tanner, East Central: The senior led the Hornets with 39 hits while driving in 27 runs and scoring another 27 himself. The all state second teamer threw 16.2 innings, striking out 28 batters and holding a 1.26 ERA.
- Matthew Combs, East Central: Combs knotched 12 extra base hits on his way to a .988 OPS with 30 RBIs.
- Christian McFaul, East Central: McFaul worked a 2.55 ERA from the mound with 30 strikeouts and nine wins. The senior also recorded 33 hits and scored 31 times.
- Porter Martin, East Central: Martin pitched 64.2 innings and turned in a 2.60 ERA with 40 batters cut down.
- Canyon Reeves, George County: Reeves hit .278 with 23 RBIs and 26 runs scored. The senior also struck out 61 batters in 46.2 innings and was a MAC first team pick.
- Ben Davis, George County: Davis worked his way onto the MAC first team with 32 hits and 34 runs scored.
- Tripp Lightsey, George County: The senior led his team with 43 hits and 13 for extra bases. Lightsey turned an OPS of .922.
- Cayler Havard, George County: Havard produced over 60 runs, driving in 33 and scoring another 33 himself.
- Tolar Raybourn, Gulfport: Raybourn slugged over .600 and wrapped his senior season with a 1.102 OPS.
- Jaxson Knight, Hancock: Knight hit .310 with six doubles and 16 RBIs and a .894 OPS.
- Ayden Howard, Hancock: Howard threw 51.2 innings of 3.25 ERA ball with 64 batters cut down.
- Jaxson Moore, Harrison Central: Moore handled 42.1 innings from the mound, striking out 51 batters and posting a 2.98 ERA.
- Will Brady, Long Beach: Brady’s senior year featured 62.1 innings from the mound with 47 strikeouts and a 3.03 ERA.
- Walker Cooke, Long Beach: The junior posted strong pitching numbers with a 2.08 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 43.2 innings.
- Cannon Hensarling, Ocean Springs: Hensarling tallied 37 hits and scored 32 times. The MAC first team choice also threw 30.2 innings with 41 strikeouts and a 1.37 ERA.
- Adam Clower, Ocean Springs: Clower produced on the mound with a 2.83 ERA at the plate, registering a .935 OPS.
- AJ Arguello, Ocean Springs: The senior produced 33 hits, scored 31 times and stole 25 bases for the Hounds.
- Tristen Fox, Ocean Springs: Fox earned six wins from the rubber and did so with a 2.33 ERA and 42 strikeouts.
- Parker Helton, Picayune: Helton dominated with a .480 average on 47 hits, including 17 for extra bases. He’s a second team all state pick and a Copiah-Lincoln commit who also struck out 30 batters from the mound.
- Turner Pugh, Picayune: Pugh hit .376 off 35 hits with nine doubles. The senior had an OPS of .964.
- Justin Stockstill, Picayune: Stockstill racked up 35 hits and scored 31 times for the Maroon Tide.
- Brunson Stockstill, Picayune: The senior picked up 30 hits and registered 18 stolen bases.
- Colt Robertson, Picayune: Robertson excelled on the mound, working a 1.87 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 67.1 innings.
- Jeremiah Moss, Poplarville: Moss crossed home plate 26 times and ended the year with a .918 OPS.
- Chase Sones, Poplarville: The sophomore recorded 25 hits at the plate and pitched 35.1 innings with 30 strikeouts and a 3.76 ERA.
- Caleb Lawrence, St. Martin: Lawrence batted .367 and built an OBP of .505 as part of a 29-hit junior season.
- Lincoln Hust, St. Martin: The junior posted a 2.96 ERA while working the rubber for 54.1 innings and sending back 52 batters via strikeout.
- Jacob Alexander, St. Patrick: Alexander doubled 11 times and drove in 32 runs as a senior while posting a 2.20 ERA and striking out 92 batters. He’s an MGCCC commit and a MAC first team selection.
- Martin Shaw, Vancleave: A second team all state choice, Shaw recorded 47 hits with 34 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
- Aidan Tapp, Vancleave: The senior was a key force in the Bulldog lineup, picking up 42 hits and scoring 36 times.
- Max Bates, Vancleave: Another member of Vancleave’s strong senior class, Bates tallied 34 hits with 11 doubles and 37 runs scored.
- Dane McElroy, Vancleave: McElroy proved a stout No. 2 on the mound, earning six wins while carrying a 2.94 ERA.
Honorable Mention
Jackson Irvin, Biloxi; Gage Dalferes, Biloxi; Jaxon Harris, D’Iberville; Ayden Demoran, D’Iberville; Canaan West, D’Iberville; Blane Green, George County; Brodie Cecchi, George County; Carson Pierce, George County; Davis Ormes, Gulfport; Mason Little, Gulfport; Thomas Stennis, Gulfport; Brandon Arcement, Hancock; Bryan Travis, Harrison Central; Dax Arkin, Long Beach; Justin San Miguel, Ocean Springs; AJ Rossi, Ocean Springs; Jeremy Korn, Ocean Springs; Luke Sones, Poplarville; Jett Smith, Poplarville; Trac Smith, Poplarville; Brayden Lee, Poplarville; River Groue, St. Martin; Jaxon Albert, Vancleave; Tyler Gazzier, West Harrison; Dezi Curley, West Harrison; Carlos Pena, West Harrison
