Meet the Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Baseball Team for the 2026 season
The Mississippi Gulf Coast baseball season produced two South State champions and showcased the deep pool of talent fans in the area have become accustomed to.
The race for Player of the Year was tight, but George County’s Bradyn Havard won both honors after an incredible season on the mound.
West Harrison’s Reese Parker takes home Underclassman of the Year while Buddy Turnage wins Coach of the Year.
Meet this season’s All South Mississippi Baseball Team.
Sun Herald Player of the Year
Bradyn Havard, George County
Havard earns Player of the Year after a dominant campaign on the mound that was highlighted by a school record 134 strikeouts, a number that lands third in the state and top-25 in the country.
The Rebels’ ace locked down a 1.30 ERA in 75.1 innings with 10 wins and a staggering 12.5 strikeouts per 7 innings. Havard will continue his baseball career at Pearl River C.C.
Fan’s Choice Player of the Year
Bradyn Havard, George County
Havard takes the fan vote after earning 42% of the ballot. The senior pitcher takes home the honor of being a double Player of the Year winner.
Gulfport’s Thomas Stennis finished as runner-up in the poll with over 9,000 votes while Jace Jones of St. Martin finished third.
Underclassman of the Year
Reese Parker, West Harrison
Parker wins the underclassman award for the second consecutive season after another stellar year for the Hurricanes. The two-way freshman just logged his third varsity season and came away with a career-best 39 hits.
He excelled on the mound, as well, with a 2.13 ERA with 55 strikeouts against only 19 walks.
Coach of the Year
Buddy Turnage, Pearl River Central
The Blue Devils enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in program history in year two under Turnage. Pearl River Central won a school record 30 games, a region championship and a South State title.
Pearl River Central finished the year as 6A state runner-ups.
Sun Herald Starting Nine
These were South Mississippi’s best softball players, regardless of position.
Ayden Demoran, D’Iberville: The Southern Miss commit enjoyed a 40-hit season with 23 RBIs from the plate and pitched to a 1.80 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 50.2 innings.
Bradyn Havard, George County: Havard’s season included seven-inning shutouts against Petal and Hancock and eight game with double-digit strikeouts.
Carson Pierce, George County: Pierce was an effective two-way standout, striking out 80 batters with a 2.57 ERA as a pitcher and putting together a 1.097 OPS as a batter.
Jaxson Knight, Hancock: Knight had 28 hits and five home runs at the plate and a 2.44 ERA with 70 strikeouts from the rubber.
Tristan Fox, Ocean Springs: Fox pitched 40 innings of 2.98 ERA baseball while contributing at the plate with a .333 batting average and 20 RBIs.
JJ Morreale, Pearl River Central: Morreale’s 55 hits and .458 batting average are new PRC single season records. The junior had 32 RBIs, 47 runs scored and struck out just four times.
Ty Keys, Poplarville: Keys was among the top hitters on the MS Coast, picking up 52 hits, 13 extra base hits and stealing 27 bases.
Tate Murphy, St. Stanislaus: One of the top pure hitters in the state, Murphy led the Coast in extra base hits (22), home runs (12) and OPS (1.681).
Reese Parker, West Harrison: Parker batted .429 with a Coast-leading eight triples among his 17 extra base hits.
Sun Herald Rising Stars
These are the Coast’s top underclassmen and the stars of tomorrow.
Anthony Bonfiglio, East Central: Bonfiglio pitched 49.2 innings with a 2.26 ERA and 54 strikeouts as a sophomore.
Hayden Ladner, Hancock: The sophomore had 24 hits, 24 runs scored and an OPS of .937 for the Hawks.
Kaynon Cuevas, Hancock: Cuevas led the Hawks in hits as a freshman with 41 and runs with 37. He doubled 10 times, stole 10 bases and had an OPS of 1.003.
Patterson Gilfoil, Ocean Springs: The sophomore worked a 2.26 ERA with 42 batters cut down across 31 innings.
Jett Smith, Poplarville: Smith was one of just two players on the Coast with at least 30 hits, 30 runs, 30 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.
Jackson Orozco, St. Stanislaus: The sophomore tossed 49.1 innings with 67 strikeouts and a posted ERA of 1.42.
Reese Parker, West Harrison: With still three seasons of high school baseball to play, Parker already has 112 career hits and a varsity OPS of 1.081.
All-South Mississippi Team
Adam Rugg, Biloxi: The Jones College commit had 29 hits, scored 22 times and put together a .920 OPS.
Carter Naron, D’Iberville: Naron recorded 35 hits, including 12 for extra bases. The East Central C.C. commit also struck out 41 batters in 25.2 innings.
Jaylen Johnson, D’Iberville: Heading to Southwest Mississippi C.C., Johnson picked up 35 hits and scored 30 runs with 19 stolen bases.
Pacey Baria, East Central: Baria led the Hornets with 35 hits and 12 doubles. He also swiped 14 bags and scored 31 times.
Brody Long, East Central: Long had 31 hits, 18 runs and a team-best .888 OPS as a senior.
Christian McFaul, East Central: McFaul struck out 34 batters in 45 innings of 3.11 ERA baseball. He also added 29 hits and 17 RBIs.
Grant Reeves, George County: The PRCC commit found 49 hits and scored 43 times. Reeves batted. .445 and had a 1.211 OPS.
Cayler Havard, George County: Havard logged 40 hits and 30 runs while batting .400 and posting an OPS of 1.081. Havard is heading to Reid State.
Peyton Havard, George County: Havard is on his way to Copiah-Lincoln after a 33-hit season in which he scored 32 runs and stole 18 bases.
Maddox Dunn, George County: George County’s new quarterback previewed his athleticism with 26 hits, 21 runs and a 1.013 OPS.
Brodie Hignight, Gulfport: Hignight had 25 hits, including 11 for extra bases, and finished the year with a .942 OPS.
Taevion Collier, Gulfport: Collier is bound for Co-Lin after pitching 52.2 innings with a 2.26 ERA and 61 strikeouts.
Thomas Stennis, Gulfport: Stennis tossed 51.2 innings, struck out 66 batters and worked a 1.63 ERA. Stennis is heading to Meridian C.C.
James Steiler, Hancock: Steiler posted a .999 OPS after getting 37 hits, 23 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
Roston Ragon, Hancock: Ragon led his team in doubles with 11, registered 30 hits and 32 runs and drove in another 25.
Gavyn Cuevas, Hancock: Cuevas worked 46.1 innings from the mound with a 2.87 ERA and 37 strikeouts.
Landon Carden, Long Beach: Carden pitched 52 innings and struck out 41 batters while working a 2.69 ERA.
Justin San Miguel, Ocean Springs: The Troy commit logged 35 hits while batting .393 and posting a 1.135 OPS.
Adam Clower, Ocean Springs: Clower is PRCC bound after a season in which he drove in 20 runs at the plate and pitched to a 1.00 ERA across 21 innings.
Johan Baez, Ocean Springs: The Greyhounds ace pitched 47 innings, earned seven pitching wins and recorded a 2.98 ERA with 60 strikeouts.
Blake Gill, Pearl River Central: The PRCC commit set the school record for single season RBIs with 50. Gill picked up 47 hits, including 21 for extra bases.
Kendall Morrison, Pearl River Central: Morrison set school records for runs (52) and stolen bases (34) while batting .390. Morrison is a PRCC commit.
Ayden Radosta, Pearl River Central: The junior won a program record 11 games as a pitcher. Radosta tossed 78 innings, worked a 2.15 ERA and struck out 44 hitters.
Roman Mitchell, Pearl River Central: Mitchell is on his way to Southwest Mississippi C.C. after throwing 71 innings with a 2.96 ERA and 71 strikeouts.
Trip Jones, Poplarville: The junior scored 40 runs, had 35 RBIs and 39 hits while batting .328.
Chadwick Brown, Poplarville: Brown had 37 hits, scored 32 times and picked up 39 RBIs.
Wyatt Schnoor, Resurrection: Schnoor pitched 48 innings, striking out 57 batters and posting a 1.90 ERA.
Jace Jones, St. Martin: Jones recorded 40 hits, 23 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. He batted .426 and had a 1.089 OPS.
River Groue, St. Martin: The senior struck out 74 batters while constructing a 2.55 ERA over 66 innings of work.
Kellan Burge, Stone: Burge had 36 hits with a .995 OPS from the batter’s box and logged a 3.86 ERA as a pitcher with 70 strikeouts in just 49 innings.
Ayden Obenhaus, Stone: Obenhaus put together an .869 OPS as a batter and had a 1.53 ERA with 35 strikeouts at the mound.
Gunner Eure, St. Patrick: Eure’s senior season saw him compile a 1.164 OPS at the plate and pitch 60.1 innings with 89 strikeouts and a 1.86 ERA from the mound.
Ayden Dartez, St. Stanislaus: Dartez picked up 31 hits and drove in 25 runs while batting .348.
Dane McElroy, Vancleave: The Bulldogs’ ace had an electric 0.86 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 48.2 innings of work.
