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2026 Pine Grove Panthers Team Preview

January 8, 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: Pine Grove Panthers
Head Coach: Ben Wallis
MHSAA Classification: 1A
District Number: Region 1-1A
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 17-13 (Second Round Playoffs)

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Top Returning Position Players:

UTL/RHP Talen Wilkerson (2027)


+ Top Returning Pitchers:

  • RHP Ayden Jones
  • RHP Talen Wilkerson
  • LHP Ty Clemmer
  • RHP Tucker Hargett

More Names to Know

2026s:

  • OF/RHP Caleb Hatcher (2026)

2027s:

  • RHP/UTL Eli Sparkman (2027)
  • OF/RHP Gavin Austin (2027)

TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

  • CINF Cooper Cornelius (2028)
  • UTL Riggs Childs (2028)
  • UTL/RHP Peyton Rushing (2028)
  • UTL Peyton Tidwell (2028)
  • UTL/OF Whit Wallis (2028)
  • UTL/RHP Ridge Ward (2028)
  • UTL Jackson Greer (2029)

2026 OUTLOOK

+ Pine Grove enters the 2026 season looking to build off a 17–13 finish and a second-round playoff appearance in Class 1A, bringing back a veteran-heavy group with plenty of versatility across the roster. Under head coach Ben Wallis, the Panthers return experience at nearly every spot on the field, along with multiple two-way contributors who give the staff flexibility when matching up throughout Region 1-1A.

Offensively, Pine Grove’s lineup is anchored by a senior core that can move around the diamond. Ayden Jones and Ty Clemmer headline the group as impact two-way pieces, with Jones providing athleticism and leadership while Clemmer adds left-handed power and run production from the middle of the order. Weston Michael returns as a steady presence behind the plate, offering reliability defensively and the ability to contribute offensively, while Tripp Yancey and Talen Wilkerson bring utility value that allows Pine Grove to adjust lineups based on matchups. Trevor Shinall adds physicality at first base and DH, giving the Panthers another run-producing option.

On the mound, Pine Grove brings back a solid mix of arms led by Jones, Wilkerson, and Clemmer, giving the Panthers right- and left-handed options capable of handling meaningful innings. Tucker Hargett adds depth to the staff, while additional help comes from Caleb Hatcher and a talented 2027 class that includes Eli Sparkman and Gavin Austin. The Panthers are also bolstered by a deep underclass group, with several 2028s and 2029 Jackson Greer pushing for varsity roles and providing long-term upside.

With experience, versatility, and depth on both sides of the ball, Pine Grove enters 2026 with a roster built to compete deep into the postseason. If the pitching staff continues to develop and the offense remains consistent, the Panthers have the makeup to take another step forward in Class 1A and be a tough out come playoff time.

Find more information on Pine Grove’s 2026 season below:

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

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