Memphis area storylines, teams, players to watch
The 2024 Tennessee and Mississippi high school baseball seasons are underway.
Here’s everything you need to know about this season, including the Memphis area’s top players, storylines and top teams.
Houston eyeing return to TSSAA state tournament
The Mustangs were ousted in the 2023 district tournament after losing to Collierville in an elimination game. This came a season after they were state runner-up, losing to Farragut. Houston will be one of the top teams in the area this season and should return to TSSAA Spring Fling this season.
Collierville’s TSSAA title pursuit
Collierville, led by ace Ari Bethea, lost in the semifinals last year after back-toback losses to Hardin Valley. The Dragons haven’t reached the state championship game since 2013 and made backto-back state tournament appearances in 2022 and 2023 after not returning to Murfreesboro since 2018.
Can Northpoint, Lewisburg win back-to back state championships?
Northpoint Christian and Lewisburg each won state championships in their respective state associations. Northpoint won the TSSAA’S Division II-A title in 2023. Lewisburg won the Class 6A championship in the MHSAA. The school is competing in the new Class 7A this season. Can the two programs repeat this year? The Trojans lost a deep senior class after last year’s title run, including now Kentucky freshman Hudson Brown. Lewisburg returns a strong pitching core, which puts them in a position to get the school’s second straight title.
Who’s on TSSAA, MHSAA state
championship watch?
Houston: While missing the state tournament last year, the Mustangs were runner-up in 2022. They have five title game appearances and last won in 2005. Houston has a shot this season to be back in the title game, returning the core of last year’s team.
Lewisburg: The Patriots return two of their top pitchers from a season ago and two of their top hitters. They will be a tough team to beat this season and are very much in the conversation of winning back-to-back state MHSAA championships.
Other teams to watch
Brighton: The Cardinals reached the state semifinals last season, falling to eventual state Class 3A champion Greeneville. With a deep pitching staff, don’t be surprised if Brighton plays for a state championship this season.
Collierville: The Dragons have gotten better each of the last two seasons. After 10 years between state tournament appearances, they have reached the last two. After last season’s semifinal appearance, they should be in the conversation to make a deep playoff run.
Briarcrest: The Saints fell short of a state tournament appearance, falling to Christ Presbyterian Academy in a threegame series in the DII-AA quarterfinals. Led by ace and Mississippi State signee Jack Gleason, the Saints could get back to Murfreesboro this season.
Christian Brothers: The Purple
Wave were swept in two games by Lipscomb Academy last season in the DIIAA state quarterfinals. This year, they return a strong pitching staff which will be key as they look to get back to Murfreesboro for the first time since 2019.
Arlington: The Tigers were one win shy of their first state tournament appearance since 2019. They beat Collierville in the region championship game but lost to Clarksville. With Eli Deberry returning as one of its top arms, they have a shot to make a playoff run again this year.
Players to watch
Kade Allen, Tipton-rosemark, Sr.: Last season, Allen had a .355 batting average with eight doubles, 33 RBIS and 14 stolen bases.
Cayden Baker, Lewisburg, Sr.: Baker, a Baylor signee, was 7-1 on the mound last season with 92 strikeouts.
Ari Bethea, Collierville, Jr.: Bethea, a Tennessee commit, had a 5-1 record on the mound last season with 75 strikeouts and a 1.76 ERA. He also tossed a nohitter in the Dragons’ 2-0 win over Centennial.
Chandler Day, Houston, Jr.: Last season, Chandler Day was one of the top arms for the Mustangs, helping them to 30 wins. He was 6-1 on the mound and had a .328 batting average.
Eli Deberry, Arlington, Sr.: Deberry, a Memphis signee, returns as one of the top arms for the Tigers this season.
Christian Doty, Lausanne, So.: Doty, an Ole Miss commit, had a .520 batting average with 15 doubles and 17 RBIS. He also had 23 stolen bases.
Luke Elkins, Harding Academy, Sr.: Elkins was named to the all-region team last season with a .330 batting average, five stolen bases and 15 RBIS.
Jack Gleason, Briarcrest, Sr.: Gleason, a Mississippi State signee, was named to the Division II-AA west region team last year.
Riley Goodman, Christian Brothers, Sr.: Last season, Goodman was 7-2 on the mound for the Purple Wave with 79 strikeouts. He also had a 0.55 ERA.
Joshua Grant, Trezevant, Sr.: Grant had a .529 batting average last season with the Bears, including 34 stolen bases and seven doubles.
AJ Greene, Collierville, Jr: Greene had a .352 batting average last season with the Dragons. He also had 13 doubles, four home runs and 34 RBIS.
Talon Haley, Lewisburg, Jr.: Haley, a Vanderbilt commit, returns as one of the top arms for the Patriots. Last season, he posted a 9-0 record with a 1.99 ERA and 103 strikeouts.
Austin Hannigan, Lewisburg, Sr.: Hannigan, a Memphis signee, had a .360 batting average with 22 RBIS last season. He also had 22 stolen bases.
Robinson Martin, Houston, Sr.: Martin, a Tennessee signee, had a .329 batting average for the Mustangs last season.
Case Maxwell, Brighton, Sr.: Maxwell, a Freed-hardeman signee, had a .398 batting average with 33 RBIS and 15 stolen bases for the Cardinals last season.
Ryan Mitchell, Houston, Jr.: Mitchell, a Georgia Tech commit, had a .423 batting average with 16 doubles, five home runs and 48 RBIS last season.
Ryan Pitts, Lakeland Prep, Fr.: Last season, Pitts had a .422 batting average with 19 RBIS and 19 stolen bases. On the mound he was 5-1 with a 1.90 ERA and 40 strikeouts.
Hudson Shoaf, Memphis University School, Sr.: Shoaf, a Samford baseball signee, returns to the Owls this season and is switching from catcher to the outfield. Last year, he had a .442 batting average with seven doubles, eight home runs and 25 RBIS.
Hank Stalnaker, Christian Brothers, Sr.: Stalnaker had a .381 batting average last season with the Purple Wave. He also had eight doubles and 32 RBIS.
Eli West, Tipton-rosemark, Sr.: West had 97 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings pitched for the Rebels last season. He also had a 1.29 ERA.
Josh Wright, First Assembly Christian School, Sr.: Last season, Wright had a .455 batting average with 17 stolen bases for the Crusaders.
Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @wynstonw__.