POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 5 Pearl River baseball program has been a model of consistency under the direction of head coach Michael Avalon. A season removed from capturing the program's sixth MACCC title, winning a program-record 49 games and setting a school-record 29-game winning streak — the Wildcats have their eyes set on making it back to Enid, Oklahoma in 2025.
One might think the Wildcats are going to be a young, inexperienced team after its roster turnover from 2024 to 2025, but the Wildcats are just new.
"It's year-to-year now with the transfer portal. We have to adapt. Every year, I catch myself saying the same thing— This may be the most talented team we've ever had," head coach Michael Avalon said. "That's a credit to coach (Slater) Lott and the recruiting side of things. I don't use the word young because I think we're newer than we are young. We have eight Division I transfers, key returners and really talented true freshmen.
"I'm excited to see how we gel and how the pieces fit into the puzzle. The kicker will be us putting all of the pieces together the right way."
PRCC will challenge itself this season in the non-conference slate with games on the schedule against Division I contenders Northwest Florida, Chipola, John A. Logan, Gulf Coast State and Chattahoochee Valley, as well as Division II standout teams such as Lansing (Mich.), South Arkansas and Southeastern (Iowa).
"We're going to play one of the toughest schedules in the country," Avalon said. "Our non-conference schedule couldn't be much tougher."
ON THE MOUND
Pearl River has excelled on the mound the last couple of years, and things shouldn't be any different in 2025.
"I'm not sure we have four SEC arms this year, but top to bottom, this group is deeper," Avalon said. "We will throw a lot of strikes and have really good stuff. They compete and pull for each other. That's what you want as coaches."
Several guys enter the year in the running for starting rotation spots and chances to start games, including KK Clark (Brandon), Caleb Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central), Patrick Spencer Jr. (Greenville; Washington School), Camden Clark (Laurel; West Jones) and Jacob Johnson (Carriere; Pearl River Central)
KK Clark transferred to Pearl River from Mississippi State and has solidified himself as a starter. Camden Clark was the 6A Mr. Baseball in high school and earned a spot in the rotation.
"KK is an ultimate competitor. He can throw four or five pitches for strikes depending on the day," Avalon said. "Camden has been really good, and we've been impressed with him. He's just got the mentality for it."
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Spencer Jr. will be a starter to begin the season for the Wildcats. He enters the season ranked as the No. 3 JUCO prospect by PBR JUCO. The right-hander can run his fastball into the upper 90s.
"Spencer is a freakish arm talent," Avalon said. "He has to handle the expectation and pressure of being a marked man. It'll be about getting him comfortable and confident early on."
Southern Miss signee Dyess will more than likely be a starter for the Wildcats but could see some opportunities out of the bullpen. As a freshman, he pitched his way to a 2.44 ERA across 62 2/3 innings.
"He is a big-time competitor, and we hope he will build on a great freshman year," Avalon said.
Johnson turned in an incredible senior campaign, holding a 0.82 ERA through 17 innings. He will get starting opportunities.
"Jacob has a really good arm," Avalon said. "He has as good of stuff as we have on the roster."
Pearl River will have numerous relief options going into the year. The bullpen will feature Hank Eaton (Corinth; Kossuth), Memphis signee Carson Fair (Southaven), Logan Fontenelle (Biloxi), Tulane transfer Drew Harrison (Madison; Germantown), West Alabama signee AJ Hansen (Mobile, Ala.; McGill-Toolen), Colin Jenkins (Mt. Olive; Simpson Academy), Southern Miss transfer and Nicholls State signee Peyton Lacy (Pass Christian), Mississippi State transfer and South Alabama signee Max Miller (Vancleave), Dylan Wallace (Columbia), Landon Watts (Picayune) and Nico Williams (Gulfport).
Fair, Hansen and Wallace are the lone members of the bullpen that pitched innings for the Wildcats last season. Fair profiles as PRCC's closer going into the year. He finished with a 1.73 ERA and struck out 35 batters through 26 innings pitched last season. As a freshman, Hansen was a great arm for the Wildcats, holding a 1.91 ERA through 33 innings pitched. Wallace through limited innings for the Wildcats, but Avalon is pleased with his growth.
"Carson should be our closer or definitely at the backend of games," Avalon said. "Hansen is steady, and we can count on him in relief. He attacks and throws strikes. Dylan has matured and become more consistent. He will get some short relief opportunities."
Harrison, Miller and Lacy are all Division I transfers that are going to be go-to arms.
"We will leave Max in the bullpen because he's our only lefty," Avalon said. "Lacy has the stuff to start, but we see him as a reliever early on. Harrison can command the zone, and he's a smart baseball player. He has a chance to start but will be a safety valve in the pen early for us."
Eaton, Fontenelle, Jenkins, Watts and Williams are freshmen who will get opportunities on the mound.
"Eaton and Fontennelle are two-way players, so that will dictate how much they pitch," Avalon said. "Jenkins could move into the starting rotation next year but will be a reliever this year. Watts is a diamond in the rough for us. He didn't have a lot of pitching opportunities in high school because he was a catcher. Williams will be a long relief guy for us this season and has some of the better off-speed pitches on the staff."
AROUND THE DIAMOND
While PRCC's depth has previously been mostly on the mound, the Wildcat offense will have more impact options than ever before.
"We like our depth a lot more offensively," Avalon said. "We feel this freshman group may be the most talented group of freshman hitters we've ever brought in. We plan to give 12 or 13 guys opportunities to prove what they can do early."
PRCC is in a good position behind the plate with the return of Logan Terry (Semmes, Ala.; East Central) and Southern Miss transfer Jacob Keys (Brandon). Terry hit .220 with five doubles and three homers last season.
"We will be fortunate behind the plate," Avalon said. "Jacob finished the early spring as our number one guy behind the plate, but I see them as 1A and 1B options. They are both experienced, so we are in good shape behind the plate — both will see ample time behind the plate.
First base will be anchored by Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy). The left-handed hitter bashed eight homers and eight doubles with a .362 batting average last season. Filing in behind him is Tyrese Johnson (West Point).
"Caston will tote the load at first base. He's a tough out and has really matured with his approach in handling the strike zone," Avalon said. "He's got power and will be a tough out in the middle of the order."
Keegan Giger (Petal) will be the starter at second base, with Conner Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central) giving flexibility to the position. In limited opportunities, Giger hit .219 with two homers and one triple as a freshman.
"We've been spoiled at second base with gold glove defenders like Jeffery Ince and Blaise Breerwood," Avalon said. "We hope Giger can continue that trend. At the plate, he's a left-handed hitter that can run and do things on the bases. Dyess is a similar player to him."
Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) transferred from South Alabama and will shoulder the shortstop position. He featured in 15 games and tallied three hits with the Jaguars.
"He's a guy with professional interest because of his left-handed swing and power," Avalon said. "He can run, and he's got a really good arm. He will hit second or third in our lineup."
Mississippi State transfer Topher Jones (Hernando) opens the year as the starter at third base, with Louisiana Monroe transfer Reese Mooney (Clinton; Denham Springs) getting opportunities as well. Mooney will also be a quarterback on PRCC's football team.
"Topher compares to (former Wildcats) Alex Perry and Dalton Cummins defensively. Offensively, he's simple and should hit for a high average. He's a really good baseball player and a big-time competitor," Avalon said. "Reese has missed some reps because of football, but he's a great athlete and has shown some promise with the bat."
Kyler King (Picayune) has been a standout for PRCC since the fall and will occupy left field and the leadoff position.
"He's been our most consistent hitter overall," Avalon said. "He's tough at the plate and grinds at-bats. He's still learning left field and getting comfortable out there."
Jackson Hood (Madison; Germantown) also recently transitioned to the outfield and will be the centerfielder. Behind Hood is Williams.
"Jackson will be in the lineup every day. He's really excelled offensively and will hit five or six in our lineup," Avalon said. "Nico has a big-league body for an outfielder, and we look forward to him continuing to develop at the plate."
In right field will be Eaton when he's not on the mound. He was 3A Mr. Baseball in high school.
"There's no question that Hank is capable of being our everyday right fielder and hit in the middle of the order," Avalon said.
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Tyrese Johnson (West Point) will anchor the designated hitter position with Chap Cook (Canton; Canton Academy) as the left-handed option. "Tyrese and Chap give a big-time physical presence in the DH spot," Avalon said. Mooney, Fontennelle and Morgan Craft (Picayune) could also get opportunities at the position.
GETTING STARTED
Pearl River heads to the prestigious Visit Panama City Beach College Baseball Classic this weekend in Panama City, Fla. The Wildcats take on Division I National Runner-up Northwest Florida, No. 12 Chipola and No. 24 John A. Logan.
TICKETS
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets. Season passes are $88 and single-game tickets are $8 if purchased in advance or $10 if purchased on the day of the game.
TUNE IN
The Wildcats will once again livestream all games for free at PRCCMedia.com/gold. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.
Games can also be heard at WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM and WRJWRadio.com.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).