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 Pontotoc High School
Head Coach: Chad Anthony
MHSAA Classification: 4A
District Number: Region1- 4A North
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 17-15 (Second Round Playoffs)

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Top Returning Position Players:

• INF Grady Bledsoe (2029)

+ Top Returning Pitchers:

• RHP Rylan Kentner (2027)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

• Hudson Wise
• Cayson Jensen
• Jack Horton
• Brooks Kentner
• Storm Robinson

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2026 OUTLOOK

+ North Pontotoc High School enters the 2026 season under head coach Chad Anthony looking to build momentum in MHSAA Class 4A after a 17–15 campaign that ended with a second-round playoff loss to West Lauderdale in Region 1–4A. With a young roster and several emerging pieces, the Vikings bring a developmental mindset into the spring while aiming to take a step forward in a competitive region.

Offensively, much of the attention centers on former Junior Future Games & infielder Grady Bledsoe (2029), who made an immediate impact by starting every game as an eighth grader last season. His early experience at the varsity level provides North Pontotoc with a reliable presence in the infield and a foundational piece to build around moving forward.

On the mound, Rylan Kentner (2027) returns as the Vikings’ top arm. The right-hander brings valuable experience and will be counted on to anchor the pitching staff as North Pontotoc navigates region play and postseason competition.

The roster is rounded out by a group of impact underclassmen who add depth and upside, including Hudson Wise, Cayson Jensen, Jack Horton, Brooks Kentner, and Storm Robinson. With a strong emphasis on youth development and continued growth, North Pontotoc has positioned itself to gain experience in 2026 while laying the groundwork for sustained success in Class 4A.

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

+ Follow them on Facebook: North Pontotoc High School
+ Find more 2026 team previews on our MHSAA Season Preview page

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