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2026 Mooreville Troopers Team Preview

February 9, 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: Mooreville Troopers
Head Coach: Derek Thompson
MHSAA Classification: 4A
District Number: Region 2
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 28-11 (State Runner-Up) 

ROSTER PREVIEW

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

2026 OUTLOOK

+ Coming off a 28–11 season that ended one step shy of a title, Mooreville heads into the spring with the edge and expectation of a group that knows it can play deep into May. Head coach Derek Thompson returns a compact but impactful core that gives the Troopers a chance to stay in the 4A conversation.

The lineup is built around a trio of proven contributors. Cooper Goff (2026, Northeast Mississippi CC) sets the tone in the middle of the infield with his steady glove and consistent offensive presence. Wyatt McDaniels (2027, Pearl River CC) is the ultimate chess piece capable of impacting the game behind the plate, in the outfield, or on the mound — while Ethan Cates (2026) brings physicality and run production from the corner spots. It’s a group that doesn’t need flash to be effective, just quality at-bats and clean defense.

On the mound, Carson Hicks (2026) returns as the headliner and gives Mooreville a dependable option to start or anchor big games. His ability to log innings will be key as the Troopers navigate district play and postseason matchups, especially with a roster that leans on efficiency and execution.

Youth will also play a role. Eli McDaniels (2029) is one of the more intriguing long-term pieces in the program, while Dawson McMillin (2028) adds athleticism and versatility as a two-way underclassman who could force his way into meaningful innings early.

With a runner-up finish still fresh and a core that understands the standard, Mooreville doesn’t need to reinvent itself. If the pitching holds and the offense continues to grind, the Troopers have the makeup of a team capable of making another deep postseason push in Region 2.

Find more information on Mooreville’s 2026 season below:

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

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