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2026 Madison-Ridgeland Academy Patriots Team Preview

February 6, 2026
Prep Baseball Mississippi Staff

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: Madison-Ridgeland Academy
Head Coach: Chad Lipscomb
MHSAA Classification: MAIS 4A
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 20-14 (Semifinals)

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Top Returning Position Players:


+ Top Returning Pitchers:

  • Aiden Peets (2026, East Central CC)
  • Kade Buchanan
  • Rhett Taylor

More Names to Know

2026s:

2027s:

2026 OUTLOOK

+ Madison-Ridgeland Academy returns in 2026 after a 20–14 campaign that carried the Patriots to the MAIS semifinals, and head coach Chad Lipscomb brings back a lineup loaded with athleticism and experience across the diamond.

The offense is paced by shortstop Alex Lambert (2026), a steady presence in the middle infield who sets the tone defensively while contributing at the plate. The outfield features multiple impact athletes, including Rhett Taylor (2027), a left-handed bat who also gives MRA innings on the mound, and Kade Buchanan (2027), another two-way threat with power potential. Will Bizot (2026) anchors the infield, while Gunnar Swanson (2026) and Dylan Varnell (2026) provide depth and versatility in the outfield, giving the Patriots several lineup combinations depending on matchups.

On the mound, MRA leans on Aiden Peets (2026) as a key returner, supported by Buchanan and Taylor, both of whom offer valuable flexibility as arms who also impact the lineup. That trio forms the backbone of the Patriots’ pitching staff and should allow Lipscomb to navigate district play with multiple options throughout the week.

Additional 2026 contributors Jack Poole, Maddox May, and Samuel Stockett add depth across the roster, while the 2027 class highlighted by Holt Adams, Nash Segrest, and Bobby Edgar brings another wave of developing talent into the program.

With a balanced mix of returning starters, two-way pieces, and emerging underclassmen, Madison-Ridgeland Academy enters the spring with momentum from last season’s semifinal run. If the Patriots continue to grow on the mound and find consistent production through the lineup, they have the tools to make another deep postseason push in MAIS 4A this spring.

Find more information on Madison-Ridgeland Academy’s 2026 season below:

+ Follow them on X: @MRABaseball
+ Find more 2026 team previews on our MHSAA Season Preview page

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