The 2026 Mississippi high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound 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 at Pearl’s Trustmark Park, in the State Tournament finals at the end of May, 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, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

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 and updating the Power 25 rankings.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Lumberton Panthers
Head Coach: Lance Hendrix
MHSAA Classification: 1A
District Number: 8-1A
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 17-10 (Second Round Playoffs)

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Top Returning Positional Players:

• SS Johnny Crawford (2026)
• C Hunner Long (2027)
• CF Uriagh Spinner (2026)

+ Top Returning Pitchers:

• P Kaden Smith (2026, Hinds CC)
• P Brendan Watters (2026)
• P Landon Knight (2026)

More Names to Know

2026s:

• Kydrick Harris (2026)
• Marcus James (2026)

2027s:

• Landon Hackenjos (2027)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

• INF/P Noah Townsend

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2026 OUTLOOK

+ Lumberton enters the 2026 season coming off a strong 17–10 campaign and a second-round playoff appearance in Class 1A, returning a core of experienced contributors under head coach Lance Hendrix. With impact pieces on both sides of the ball and several key juniors back in the fold, the Panthers are positioned to compete again in District 8-1A as they look to build on last spring’s postseason run.

Offensively, the lineup is anchored by shortstop Johnny Crawford (2026), a steady presence up the middle who brings athleticism and reliability to the infield while providing consistent production at the plate. Behind the dish, Hunner Long (2027) gives Lumberton stability at catcher, handling the pitching staff while continuing to develop into a dependable bat in the lineup. In center field, Uriagh Spinner (2026) adds range and speed, providing defensive value in the outfield along with table-setting ability offensively.

On the mound, Lumberton returns a trio of arms capable of handling meaningful innings. Kaden Smith (2026, Hinds CC) headlines the staff after establishing himself as a dependable option with the ability to navigate lineups and compete in key moments. Brendan Watters (2026) and Landon Knight (2026) add depth to the rotation, giving the Panthers multiple looks and flexibility as they manage workloads throughout the spring. The collective experience of this group provides a solid foundation for Lumberton’s pitching plans entering the season.

Additional contributors are pushing for expanded roles as well, including Kydrick Harris (2026) and Marcus James (2026), both of whom add depth to the roster and project as pieces who could impact the lineup as the season progresses. Landon Hackenjos (2027) is another name to follow in the younger class, offering long-term upside within the program.

The next wave of Panthers talent is highlighted by underclassman Noah Townsend, a versatile infielder and pitching option who brings athleticism and projectable tools to the roster. His development, along with continued growth from the returning core, adds another layer to Lumberton’s overall makeup.

With returning production up the middle, a pitching staff led by experienced juniors, and developing depth across the roster, Lumberton enters 2026 as a balanced club with postseason expectations in Class 1A. If the Panthers continue to get consistent contributions from their core while integrating emerging pieces, they have the ingredients to make another run in District 8-1A and beyond.

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Find more information on Lumberton High School’s 2026 season below:

+ Follow them on Facebook: Lumberton Baseball
+ Find more 2026 team previews on our MHSAA Season Preview page

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