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2026 Northwest Rankin Cougars Team Preview

February 5, 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: Northwest Rankin Cougars
Head Coach: KK Aldridge
MHSAA Classification: 7A
District Number: Region 3
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 13-16-1 (First Round Playoffs)

ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Top Returning Position Players:

+ Top Returning Pitchers:

More Names to Know

2026s:

2027s

TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

2026 OUTLOOK

+ Northwest Rankin enters the 2026 season looking to turn the page after a 13–16–1 campaign and a first-round playoff exit, returning a solid core of experienced varsity contributors under head coach KK Aldridge. With multiple college-committed position players and a versatile group of arms, the Cougars bring back enough talent to compete in a deep Class 7A Region 3 landscape.

Offensively, the lineup is built around a veteran infield and a middle-of-the-order catching presence. Nelson Barthel (2026, Jones College) anchors the roster behind the plate, providing leadership, defensive reliability, and a steady bat. Russ Ingram (2026) brings physicality at first base while also contributing on the mound, giving Northwest Rankin flexibility in both the lineup and pitching staff. The infield features a strong returning group with Jackson Meehan (2026, Southern Miss), Noah Williams (2026), and JM Moore (2027), each capable of impacting the game on both sides of the ball. Meehan’s athleticism and two-way ability headline that group, while Williams and Moore add depth and competitiveness across the middle of the diamond.

In the outfield, Brooks Crawley (2026, Itawamba CC) provides power potential and run production from the DH/OF spot, while Gavin Phillipson (2027, East Central CC) brings speed and range in center field. Their presence gives the Cougars athleticism up the middle and lengthens the lineup. Chase Ainsworth (2026) is another infield piece to monitor as he pushes for a larger role this spring.

On the mound, Northwest Rankin returns a wide mix of arms capable of filling starting and relief roles. Meehan, Williams, and Ingram headline the staff, with Dalton Pixley (Meridian CC) adding a college-tested arm to the rotation mix. JM Moore and Jack Page provide additional depth, allowing the Cougars to manage innings and matchups throughout the season. How this group settles into defined roles will be a key factor in Northwest Rankin’s ability to close games and stack wins.

The 2027 class adds further depth with utility option Cam Thompson and outfielder Drew Butler, while underclassman Dawson Lewis (2029) represents the next wave of infield talent working its way into the program.

With returning experience across the infield, a committed catching presence, and multiple arms available to handle innings, Northwest Rankin enters 2026 with the pieces in place to take a step forward. If the Cougars can establish consistency on the mound and get production throughout the lineup, they have the roster makeup to be a competitive factor in Class 7A Region 3 this spring.

Find more information on Northwest Rankin’s 2026 season below:

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

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