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: Pontotoc Warriors
Head Coach: JD Poss
MHSAA Classification: 5A
District Number: Region 1-5A
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 20-12 (Second Round Playoffs)

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

+ No. Returning Positional Starters:

• SS Corbyn Clayton (2026, Jones College)
• OF Miller Finn (2026, Jones College)
• 3B Parker Heatherly (2026)
• INF John Scott Wilson (2026)
• UTL Jaxon Dandridge (2026)

 
+ No. Returning Pitchers:

• RHP Corbyn Clayton (2026, Jones College)
• LHP Miller Finn (2026, Jones College)
• RHP Walker Chrestman (2028)
• RHP Jake Cooley (2027)

More Names to Know

2026s:

• INF Luke Hendrix (2026)
• OF Kentorius Morrow (2026)

2027s:

• OF/LHP Thomas Jefcoat (2027)
• OF Sheff White (2027)
• INF Daylan Corley (2027)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

• UTL Cayson Witcher (2028)
• OF Josiah Berry (2028)
• C Brody Swink (2028)

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2026 OUTLOOK

+ Pontotoc heads into the 2026 spring coming off a solid 20–12 season and a second-round playoff run in Class 5A, a year that provided valuable reps for a group that returns a strong core of proven varsity pieces. Under head coach JD Poss, the Warriors bring back experience at premium positions, multiple two-way contributors, and a roster that has already been tested in postseason environments. With continuity across the lineup and on the mound, Pontotoc profiles as a club that should once again be in the mix in Region 1-5A.

The offense is driven by a senior class that has logged a ton of varsity innings and at-bats, headlined by Jones College commits Corbyn Clayton and Miller Finn. Clayton is a cornerstone up the middle, providing steady defense at shortstop along with impact from the right side of the plate, while also doubling as a reliable arm on the mound. Finn adds another athletic, left-handed presence, bringing value in the outfield and giving the Warriors a versatile bat that can lengthen the lineup. Parker Heatherly brings physicality and run production at third base, while John Scott Wilson and Jaxon Dandridge offer defensive flexibility and quality depth, allowing Pontotoc to mix and match based on matchups and pitching looks.

On the bump, the Warriors return a staff built around experience and strike-throwing. Clayton and Finn headline the rotation, giving Pontotoc dependable options from both the right and left side, while Walker Chrestman and Jake Cooley provide additional arms capable of handling meaningful innings as the season progresses. The depth of the staff is bolstered by a strong supporting cast, including 2026s Luke Hendrix and Kentorius Morrow, along with a talented 2027 group featuring Thomas Jefcoat, Sheff White, and Daylan Corley. The next wave is already making noise as well, with underclassmen Cayson Witcher, Josiah Berry, and Brody Swink adding athleticism, upside, and long-term impact potential.

With a veteran core, multiple college-bound pieces, and a steady influx of young talent, Pontotoc enters 2026 with a roster that checks a lot of boxes. If the Warriors continue to develop on the mound and get consistent production throughout the lineup, they have the makeup of a team capable of making another postseason push and potentially extending that run deeper into May.

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

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

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