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: North Delta Green Wave
Head Coach: Jim Tom Copeland
MHSAA Classification: MAIS 3A
District Number: District 1
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 26-13 (State Runner-Up)

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

+ No. Returning Positional Starters:

• OF/P Karson Ware (2026) 
• UTL/P Jett Manning (2027) 
• C Hunter Carpenter (2026)

+ No. Returning Pitchers:

• P Karson Ware (2026)
• P Jett Manning (2026)

More Names to Know

2026s:

• Hayden Riva (2026)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

• Will Carpenter

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2026 OUTLOOK

+ North Delta enters the 2026 season with momentum and high expectations after a 26–13 campaign that culminated in a MAIS 3A State Runner-Up finish. Under head coach Jim Tom Copeland, the Green Wave return a competitive core that logged meaningful postseason innings and at-bats a year ago, giving the program a veteran edge as it looks to make another deep run in District 1.

The lineup is built around experience and versatility, starting with Karson Ware (2026), a key two-way piece who played a major role in last season’s success. Ware served as the team’s closer in 2025, showing the ability to handle pressure moments on the mound, and now projects to take on an expanded workload as a primary innings-eater this spring. His athleticism also allows him to impact the game in the outfield, making him one of the Green Wave’s most valuable all-around contributors.

Jett Manning (2027) is another critical returning piece and a true utility profile. Manning’s ability to move around the diamond gives North Delta flexibility defensively, while his bat has been a staple in the lineup. His presence allows the coaching staff to mix and match lineups while keeping a reliable offensive piece in key spots, and he projects as a player whose role continues to grow as the season progresses.

Behind the plate, Hunter Carpenter (2026) anchors the roster both offensively and defensively. A fixture in the middle of the order since eighth grade, Carpenter brings four years of varsity experience and has established himself as one of the top catchers in the league. His ability to manage a pitching staff, control the run game, and provide consistent production at the plate makes him a cornerstone for the Green Wave and a trusted leader in high-leverage situations.

On the mound, North Delta will again lean on Ware and Manning to shoulder a significant portion of the innings. Both arms bring competitiveness and familiarity with postseason environments, which is critical for a team with championship aspirations. How those roles expand, and how depth develops behind them, will be a key storyline for the Green Wave throughout the spring.

Additional pieces are pushing for larger roles as well. Hayden Riva (2026) is a name to follow as a potential contributor who could impact the lineup or staff, while underclassman Will Carpenter represents the next wave of talent ready to be integrated into meaningful varsity action.

With a proven catcher, versatile position players, and returning arms that have already performed on the state’s biggest stage, North Delta enters 2026 positioned as a legitimate contender in MAIS 3A. If the Green Wave continue to build pitching depth and get consistent production from their experienced core, they have the makeup of a club capable of finishing the job after last season’s runner-up run.

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Find more information on North Delta School’s 2026 season below:

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

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