Robert Wilson spent 23 years at The Clarion-Ledger/Jackson Daily News as a sportswriter with more than half of those years covering high school sports, mostly in the Metro Jackson area. He helped choose the Dandy Dozen in various sports for more than a decade. Wilson rebirthed a similar team four years ago with Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Elite 11 Preseason Baseball Team based on our All-Metro team selections from the previous season. Wilson selected the best players from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties from their performances last season. The players below are in alphabetical order.
Henry Abt, Hartfield, Outfielder, Senior
The Southern Miss signeehad a .400 batting average with 32 runs, 32 runs batted in, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs and 14 stolen bases and helped Hartfield to a 28-8 record and a MAIS Class 6A runner-up finish last season as a junior.
He was on the first team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last year.
His brother, JP Abt, was the Metro Jackson Player of the Year last season and is a freshman playing baseball for Pearl River Community College this year.
“Henry has really developed over the last several seasons from a good baseball player to a great one,” Hartfield coach Justin Smith said. “He has speed, barrel awareness, and power. The way Henry plays the game is fun to watch. He is a high character man who is a leader on our team.”
Tre Adcox, Brandon, Third Base, Junior
The University of New Orleans commitment had a .365 batting average with 22 runs, 29 runs batted in, 7 doubles, 2 triples and 4 home runs and helped Brandon to a 24-14 record and a MHSAA Class 7A runner-up finish last season as a sophomore.
He was on the second team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last year. Adcox was one of three sophomores on the 28-player All Metro team.
“Tre had a great year for us last year as a sophomore at the plate and has worked hard this fall on improving,” Brandon coach Daniel Best said. “He has the potential with his size and strength to be one of the top left-handed hitters in 7A in the state as a junior. Tre will be in the top of our order this year and holding down the hot corner. I expect him to be one of our leading run producers.”
Chad Bates, Clinton, Outfielder, Senior
The Pearl River Community College signee had a .404 batting average with 34 runs, 24 runs batted in and 4 doubles and helped Clinton to a 21-9 record and a MHSAA Class 7A quarterfinals appearance.
Bates was on the second team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last year.
“Chad is a tone setter for us as a team, both offensively and defensively,” Clinton coach Sam Temple said. “Hitting .404 combined with his speed and athleticism at the top of our lineup sets the tone for us offensively. Chad’s experience and leadership as an elite defender in centerfield is a vital piece to our team’s success.”
Stone Crain, Clinton, Catcher, Senior
The Pearl River Community College signee had a .440 batting average with 6 home runs and 41 runs batted and and helped Clinton to a 21-9 record and MAIS Class 6A quarterfinals appearance last season as a junior.
Crain was on the first team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last season.
“Stone showcases consistent leadership with his toughness and competitiveness,” Clinton coach Sam Temple said. “Defensively as our catcher, he impacts every game he plays in. Stone is also a constant threat in the middle of our lineup.”
Chad Davidson, Madison St. Joseph, Pitcher-Outfielder-First Baseman, Junior
The Jones County Junior College commitment had a 5-4 record, 2.32 earned run average with 74 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings and had a .409 batting average with 24 runs, 14 runs batted in, 8 doubles, 4 triples and stolen bases and helped St. Joe to a 10-21 record and a MAIS Class 6A quarterfinals appearance last season as a sophomore.
Davidson was the utility player on the first team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last season. He was the only sophomore on the 14-player first team.
“Chad was great for us on the mound and in the box last year,” St. Joe coach Tanner Moulder said. “He gave us a chance to win every time he stepped on the mound. His performance earned him all state honors in MAIS Class 6A. Chad has been working even harder this season to build on the season he had last year. His velocity has climbed and he has better command of all his pitches in the zone. I expect him to be the anchor of our pitching staff, give us top quality at bats all season and be a leader on and off the field.”
Ethan Dodson, Clinton, Shortstop, Senior
The Memphis signee had .520 batting average with 15 doubles and 42 runs batted in to help Clinton to 21-9 record and MAIS Class 6A quarterfinals appearance last season as a junior.
Dodson was a designated hitter on the first team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last season.
“Ethan’s consistency both offensively and defensively as our shortstop is what makes him elite,” Clinton coach Sam Temple said. “Due to his work ethic, he has made himself into an outstanding shortstop that can make any play with tremendous arm strength. Ethan’s consistency offensively, hitting .520 with 15 doubles and 42 RBIs, has set him apart as one of the top hitters in the state.”
Aiden Peets, MRA, Pitcher, Senior
The East Central Community College commitment had a an 8-2 record, 1.92 earned run average with 34 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings and helped MRA to a 20-14 record and a MAIS Class 6A semifinals appearance last season as a junior.
Peets was a starting pitcher on the first team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last season.
“Aiden had an amazing junior year on the mound,” MRA coach Chad Lipscomb said. “He has been an outstanding leader for us this offseason and we look forward to him leading us on the mound this year.”
Alex Lambert, MRA, Shortstop, Senior
The Jones County Junior College commitmenthad a .343 batting average with 19 runs, 18 runs batted in, a team-high 10 doubles and 1 home run and helped Madison-Ridgeland Academy to a 20-14 record and a MAIS Class 6A semifinals appearance last season as a junior.
He was on the second team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last season.
“Alex is by far the hardest worker I have ever coached,” MRA coach Chad Lipscomb said. “To see where he is today from where he started is remarkable. Alex’s defense has become so elite and this year his hitting has taken a huge jump as well.”
Taylor Latham, Hartfield Academy, Pitcher, Senior
The Southern Miss signee had a 7-2 record, 2.32 earned run average with 75 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings and helped Hartfield to a to a 28-8 record and a MAIS Class 6A runner-up finish last season as a junior.
He was a starting pitcher on the second team on the Performance Therapy/Mississippi Scoreboard All Metro Jackson team last season.
“Taylor has been pitching for us since the eighth grade and it’s awesome to watch his growth over those years,” Hartfield coach Justin Smith said. “I believe he will have a great senior season for us on the mound. Taylor is a leader for our team and is a high character man.”
Kevin Roberts, Jackson Prep, Shortstop-Outfielder, Senior
The Florida signee had a .406 batting average with 30 runs, 17 runs batted in, 9 doubles, 3 home runs and 15 stolen bases and helped Prep to a 20-15-1 record and a MAIS Class 6A quarterfinals appearance last season as a junior.
He was the designated hitter on the second team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last year.
“Kevin has had a great summer and fall,” Prep coach Brent Heavener said. “He has come out really swinging the bat and looks good at the plate. Kevin is going to be one of the leaders on this team and really has a great opportunity to have a great season and open the door for a lot of things going into next year for him. Kevin is a special player and we are really excited about what the season holds for him. Kevin is a gifted athlete and he knows all eyes are going to be on him when he steps on the field. He is excited about the challenge and looking forward to a great senior season.”
Roberts averaged 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds and helped Prep to a 26-5 record and the Overall Tournament basketball championship last season as a junior. He was named third team on the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson team.
Roberts is the only player to make the All Metro baseball and basketball teams last season.
Roberts didn’t play basketball this season due to many Major League Baseball teams making in home visits to Roberts this fall and winter.
He is rated as the 85th top prospect for the MLB Draft by mlb.com. The 85th pick would be in the mid-third round. Roberts is rated as the No. 2 high school player in Mississippi and the No. 40 high school player in the country by mlb.com.
Grady Smith, Brandon, Outfielder-Pitcher, Junior
The Pearl River Community College commitment had a .394 batting averaged with 25 runs, 27 runs batted in, 7 doubles, 2 triples and 1 home run and helped Brandon to a 24-14 record and a MHSAA Class 7A runner-up finish last season as a sophomore.
Smith was on the second team on the Performance Therapy/MSB All Metro Jackson team last season. He was one of three sophomores on the 28-player All Metro team.
“Grady exceeded all expectations last year in his sophomore season,” Brandon coach Daniel Best said. “He has gotten a lot of stronger over the off season and I expect him to have more gap to gap power. Grady will be in the top of the order and probably play all positions in the outfield as well as be one of our top returners on the mound. I see a ton of upside in Grady as he continues to mature as a player.”
