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: Newton County Cougars
Head Coach: Jordan Smith
MHSAA Classification: 4A
District Number: 4A District 5
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 19-16 (Fourth Round Playoffs) 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Top Returning Position Players:

• C/RHP Hayden Amis (2026, Pearl River CC)
• INF/RHP Landry Tolbird (2026)
• OF/INF Caleb Potter (2026)
• LHP/OF Hayden Townsend (2026)
• CINF/C Grant Keith (2026)

+ Top Returning Pitchers:

• RHP Hayden Amis (2026)
• RHP Landry Tolbird  (2026)
• LHP Hayden Townsend (2026)
• RHP Brady Bounds (2027)
• RHP Braxton Dean (2027)

More Names to Know

2026s:

• Conner Alford (2026)
• Caleb Shinn (2026)

2027s:

• Jordan Chaney (2027)
• Russell Ford (2027)
• Cohen Liggett (2027)
• Ben Norman (2027)
• Landon Stuart (2027)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

• Kiryn Hardaway

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2026 OUTLOOK

+ Newton County enters the 2026 season coming off a strong 19–16 campaign that saw the Cougars make a fourth-round playoff run in Class 4A. Under head coach Jordan Smith, Newton County returns a veteran-heavy roster with postseason experience across the diamond, giving the program a sturdy foundation as it looks to compete again in a challenging 4A District 5.

The Cougars’ lineup is led by a deep group of experienced juniors who bring versatility and two-way value. Hayden Amis (2026) stands out as a cornerstone piece, providing impact behind the plate while also serving as a reliable right-handed arm. His ability to control the game defensively, manage a pitching staff, and contribute offensively makes him one of Newton County’s most important returning players entering the spring.

Landry Tolbird (2026) adds another key two-way presence to the roster. An infielder with a strong right-handed arm, Tolbird brings defensive reliability on the dirt while also factoring heavily into the pitching rotation. His experience and competitiveness give the Cougars a steady option in high-leverage situations on both sides of the ball.

The outfield features multiple athletic contributors, including Caleb Potter (2026) and Hayden Townsend (2026). Potter’s versatility allows him to move between the outfield and infield while providing consistent offensive production. Townsend adds a left-handed look both at the plate and on the mound, giving Newton County balance in the lineup and another dependable arm capable of logging meaningful innings.

Grant Keith (2026) brings additional depth and flexibility, capable of contributing at multiple infield spots while also handling catching duties. His presence allows the Cougars to mix and match defensively without sacrificing experience or consistency.

On the mound, Newton County returns a deep and proven group of arms. Amis, Tolbird, and Townsend headline the staff, while Brady Bounds (2027) and Braxton Dean (2027) provide quality depth and upside as younger arms ready to take on expanded roles. The ability to spread innings across multiple pitchers should allow the Cougars to manage the long season effectively.

Additional upperclassmen such as Conner Alford (2026) and Caleb Shinn (2026) are names to watch as potential contributors, while the 2027 class brings further depth with Jordan Chaney, Russell Ford, Cohen Liggett, Ben Norman, and Landon Stuart all pushing for opportunities.

The next wave of talent is highlighted by underclassman Kiryn Hardaway, a name to follow as he begins to carve out a role at the varsity level.

With a lineup full of experienced juniors, multiple two-way contributors, and a pitching staff that brings both depth and postseason familiarity, Newton County enters 2026 positioned as a serious contender in Class 4A. If the Cougars continue to get consistent production from their veteran core and develop contributions from their younger pieces, they have the makeup of a club capable of another deep playoff run this spring.

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Find more information on Newton County’s 2026 season below:

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

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