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 All-Metro teams in various sports for more than a decade. Wilson rebirthed this team with the Mississippi Scoreboard All-Metro Jackson Baseball Team with 28 players and a Coach and Player of the Year. This is the seventh annual team. With the help of high school and college coaches, Wilson selected the best players and coach for the 2026 season from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties. 

Coach of the Year: Justin Reed, Jackson Academy

Player of the Year: Deuce Jenkins, Jackson Academy

2026 Metro Jackson Baseball team 

FIRST TEAM:

Starting pitcher: Rhett Taylor, MRA, Junior

Starting pitcher: Dalton Pixley, Northwest Rankin, Senior 

Relief pitcher: Gage Temple, Clinton, Junior

First base: Crews Albritton, Tri-County Academy, Junior

Second base: Luke Wesson, Hartfield, Junior

Shortstop: Alex Lambert, MRA, Senior

Third Base: Will Bizot, MRA, Senior

Catcher: Nelson Barthel, Northwest Rankin, Senior

Outfielder: Deuce Jenkins, Jackson Academy, Junior

Outfielder: Henry Abt, Hartfield, Senior

Outfielder: Tai Jones, Jackson Academy, Junior

Designated hitter: Justin Word, Jackson Academy, Senior

Utility: Maddox Culpepper, Brandon, Junior

SECOND TEAM 

Starting pitcher: Whit Davis, Jackson Academy, Junior

Starting pitcher: Noah Flynn, Hartfield, Junior

Relief pitcher: Holt Adams, MRA, Junior

First base: Steven Lee, Madison Central, Senior

Second base: Braylon Edwards, Madison Central, Sophomore

Shortstop: Ethan Dodson, Clinton, Senior

Third base: Cameron Thompson, Northwest Rankin, Junior

Catcher: Stone Crain, Clinton, Senior 

Outfielder: Reed Sandberg, Madison Central, Senior

Outfielder: Grady Smith, Brandon, Junior 

Outfielder: Gunnar Swanson, MRA, Senior

Designated hitter: Gabriel Estel, Hartfield, Junior

Utility: Jackson Meehan, Northwest Rankin, Senior

JACKSON ACADEMY’S JUSTIN REED AND DEUCE JENKINS EARN THE BOX SPORTS ACADEMY METRO JACKSON BASEBALL COACH AND PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS