Head Coach Lance Hendrix and the Poplarville High School baseball team are ready to take the field for the 2018 baseball season.

Last season, the Hornets finished with an 11-14 overall record and a 4-6 region record.

“We have a lot of returning starters this year and we, the coaches, and the players have set high expectations for ourselves this season. We feel good about our chances,” Hendrix said.

This year’s team includes three seniors, Peytan Graham, Kyle Tynes and Joey Smith.

Hendrix said he expects to see contributions from sophomore Blaise Breerwood and juniors Canaan Ray, Tyson Holston and Cade Johnson.

“Our seniors have been with the program since their freshman year and players such as Ray, Holston and Johnson have been in the starting lineup for two years. Many of our returning players were able to get an extensive amount of playing last season, which will help us out in the long run this year,” Hendrix said.

Due to the realignment of regions by the Mississippi High School Activities Association for the 2017-2018 school year, Poplarville will face Forrest County Agricultural, Greene County, Lawrence County, Purvis and Sumrall high schools in its region games.

According to the MHSAA website, Sumrall has won five state championships in the last 10 years and Purvis won the state title in 2005 and 2012.

“In my opinion, we play in one of the toughest regions in the state. Purvis and Sumrall have great baseball programs and teams such as Greene County and Forrest Agricultural are always competitive,” Hendrix said. “But at the same time, I believe our players are ready to go out and compete.”

The Hornets will begin the regular season on Feb. 23 when the team takes on county-rival Picayune Memorial High School at the Pearl River County Classic at the Pearl River Central High School baseball field.

On Feb. 24, the Hornets will face current Class 5A state champion Pearl River Central.

“Currently we don’t have everyone on the team able to come out to practice due to their involvement with other sports but so far we have looked good swinging the bat at practice,” Hendrix said. “We think this season is going to be our big turning point and this is going be a great year for us.”