With two state championship appearances in the last three seasons, ninth-year head coach Mark Carson and the Rangers look for a return trip to both the state and region tournaments in 2014. The Rangers open the year ranked 14th by the NJCAA, their first time in the polls in 11 years.
 
"We try not to read too much into a preseason poll because a lot of it is based on last year's accomplishments," Carson said. "I want this year's team to earn their own spot and own identity and start fresh with this season. The ranking is exciting and it helps with recruiting, but in the end, it's just a number. Now we have to go out there and do something with that." 
 
Carson's overall record with the Rangers stands at 228-171-2 (.571) and he's an impressive 113-54 (.677) against north division opponents with a pair of championships and three runner-up finishes. Carson ranks third on Northwest's all-time wins list behind Jim Miles (556) and Donny Castle (271), earning his 200th win on Feb. 19, 2013 in an 8-3 Game 1 victory at Southwest Tennessee.
 
Last season's squad finished as state and north division runner-up, closing the year 31-18 overall and 17-7 in division play. The 31 wins secured a seventh straight year with 25 or more under Carson, and the Rangers have now posted 18 winning seasons in the last 19 overall.
 
Northwest knocked off 19th-ranked Jones County to advance to the state championship tournament before losing to eventual state champions and 16th-ranked East Central in the title game, 4-0. All told, seven of Northwest's final nine games were against ranked opponents.
 
"We had a good run late last year and ran into a good LSU Eunice and East Central team at the end," Carson said. "It was a lot of fun, and fortunately for us, a lot of those guys are back from last year's team including another arm or two. Hopefully that experience will fill over into this season. We have some good freshmen coming in, mixed with our returners, and I think we have a chance to throw out a pretty good lineup."

In addition to 12 newcomers, 16 sophomores return from last year's team with plenty of game experience. Of the sophomores returning, 12 played significant roles in the late season run and will hopefully lead the way again in 2014.
 
On the mound, Northwest will have to replace an NJCAA Third Team All-American in record-setting left-hander Cody Reed. He set new career records in strikeouts (161), wins (16), innings pitched (137.2), batters faced (601), starts (23) and shutouts (five) and went on to be selected 46th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2013 MLB First Year Player Draft.
 
Northwest will have nine pitchers returning from last year's staff who posted the lowest opponent batting average in school history at .252 with a 3.24 ERA.
 
Sophomores Matt Ferguson (7-2, 3.65 ERA), Domenick Carlini (4-5, 3.16), 2013 MLB Draft Pick Tanner Cable (4-4, 4.11) and Cody Waddell (1-3, 3.02) will be in the starting rotation with Tanner Densford (4-0, 1.46), Will Faulkner (2-0, 0.70) Tyler Scholl (3.09 ERA, 5 saves), Ryan Seawright (5 appearances) and Peyton Willoughby all available in the bullpen. The Rangers also add several big arms to the mix with freshmen Peter Barton (Lewisburg), J.R. Miller (Harding Academy), Colin Liles (Magnolia Heights) and Davis Brown (Senatobia).
 
Behind the plate, 2013 Vicksburg Post Player of the Year Hunter Austin of Warren Central and Kody Kimbrough of Houston, one of The Clarion-Ledger's Top 40 Other Seniors to Watch, will split time.
 
The middle infield will be manned by a pair of returners in MACJC Second Team All-State selection Jay King and Christian Brothers signee, Tanner Densford. Taylor King will move from first to third, making way for Chase Clark to be an every game starter at first. Having those two in the lineup together should provide an explosive combination, and King seems poised for a breakout year. Northwest also has several options as backups in sophomore Brennan Pugh of Houston, freshman Stuart Chick of Hernando and frosh James Clark of Heritage Academy.
 
In the outfield, sophomore James Lear will take over for Jordan Barnes, who left after one season after being drafted in the 15th round by the New York Yankees. Barnes' speed was his greatest asset, covering a ton of ground and also providing 22 of 22 stolen bases. The Rangers shouldn't miss a beat with Lear in center. Kramer Hollenbach emerged midway through last season as an every game starter in right field. He'll move to left this season as freshman Stephen Sexton of Tupelo Christian Prep, a two-time all-state selection, will bring another big bat to the lineup. Sexton hit .392 for his career with 22 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs and 87 RBIs.
 
Freshmen Luke Latham of Magnolia Heights and Aaron McAlexander of Marshall Academy will also see time in the outfield. Latham hit .367 as a senior with nine doubles, seven home runs and 31 RBIs to help lead the Chiefs to a 38-0 record and back-to-back MAIS AAA Division II State Championships.
 
Northwest will throw out first pitch of the 2014 season on Sunday, Feb. 9 at Southwest Tennessee, weather permitting. This year's schedule features several opponents who the Rangers don't play on a yearly basis, with games scheduled against No. 8 North Iowa Area, Southeastern Iowa, John Wood, Copiah-Lincoln and Rend Lake.