Northwest had its sights set on a deep postseason run last season after getting hot down the stretch, but ran into a team on a similar path that ultimately ended up in the series that the Rangers were seeking.
 
Northwest won 19 of its final 26 games to finish 30-16 overall (16-8 north) before falling to eventual NJCAA Region 23 Champions and World Series runner-up, Hinds, in the opening round of the state playoffs. The Eagles continued their recent dominance over Northwest, eliminating the Rangers from postseason play for the third time in six seasons and winning 16 of the last 20 meetings overall.
 
The Rangers finished 20th in the final NJCAA Division II Poll of the season after appearing in the poll for six weeks over the course of the season. They peaked at No. 13 on March 11. Northwest won seven games over ranked opponents, including victories over No. 5 East Mississippi, No. 7 Jones County, No. 8 North Iowa, No. 16 Mississippi Delta and No. 19 Northeast.
 
Under 10th-year head coach Mark Carson, Northwest has won 30 or more games in three of the last four seasons and finished with a winning record in eight straight years. Northwest has also played for a state championship twice in the last four seasons.
 
Carson's overall record with the Rangers stands at 258-187-2 (.577) and he's an impressive 129-62 (.675) against north division opponents with a pair of championships and three runner-up finishes. Carson currently ranks third on Northwest's all-time wins list behind Jim Miles (556) and Donny Castle (271), earning win No. 200 on Feb. 19, 2013 in an 8-3 Game 1 victory at Southwest Tennessee. Fourteen wins this year will move him into second all-time.
 
Northwest has seen great success at the plate the past decade, ranking among the nation's best in batting average. The Rangers have finished in the top 30 in the NJCAA in five of the previous eight seasons, including 18th in 2014 with a .327 average – second best in the state behind Jones County. Northwest also finished 26th in 2011 (.314), 30th in 2009 (.326), 15th in 2008 (.342) and fifth in 2007 (.357).
 
Assistant coach Bill Selby has played a big role in the Rangers' aggressive play on the base path. The signal caller has seen Northwest steal 100 bases in four consecutive seasons, including a school-record 126 in 2013. Northwest swiped 117 bags in 2014, 108 in 2012 and 104 in 2011.
 
In addition to 16 newcomers, 10 sophomores return from last year's team. Northwest also grabbed a pair of key sophomore transfers in 2B Dalton Dulin (Ole Miss) and RHP Grant Black (Arkansas Baptist).
 
In order for the Rangers to be successful this season, freshmen Clay Casey (OF), Jamell Newson (OF) and Colt Smith (RHP), along with sophomores Stephen Sexton (OF), Dalton Dulin (2B), Colin Liles (RHP) and Kody Kimbrough (C), will have to play big roles. With the rule changes in the league of 28 conference games and every team playing each other in a single doubleheader, there isn't much room for error and the pressure is on.
 
Casey is the nation's 41st best JUCO prospect by Perfect Game and was a 2014 Second Team All-American and All-Southeast Region First Team nod. He was also named to the All-USA team, all-state team and was a Gatorade Player of the Year finalist. Casey hit .464 as a senior with eight doubles, three triples, a state-best 14 home runs, 47 RBIs and 43 runs scored.
 
Newson helped lead Magnolia Heights to three straight MAIS AAA Division II State Championships and was named one of the Top 20 Underclassmen to Watch in Mississippi by The Clarion-Ledger. As a senior, he hit .472 with six doubles, six triples, two home runs, 28 RBIs and 35 stolen bases.
 
Dulin transferred in from Ole Miss, playing in 38 games (11 starts) last season for head coach Mike Bianco. He helped the Rebels claim the SEC West championship, Oxford Regional championship and advance to the College World Series for the first time since 1972. He's ranked 97th by Perfect Game.
 
Sexton hit .281 last season with 10 doubles, one triple, one home run, 28 RBIs and 17 runs scored. He closed the season with a career-best 5-for-5 outing at Hinds in the state playoffs.

Luke Latham, who started 35 games last year, primarily in right field, will draw the start in the designated hitter spot. Latham hit .250 with five doubles, one triple, seven home runs (tied for team lead) and 23 RBIs.
 
Northwest will have to replace an NJCAA Third Team All-American in standout shortstop Jay King, but should be in good hands with freshman LeeMarcus Boyd from Independence High School.
 
Sophomores Stuart Chick and James Clark will see their share of starts in the infield on the corners. Chick played in 24 games as a freshman, hitting .395 (third on the team) with two doubles, seven RBIs, 20 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. His .491 on-base percentage ranked second on the team. Battling injuries, Clark played in 25 games a year ago. He saw time at first base, behind the plate and as the designated hitter, hitting .232 with four doubles, a home run, 10 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
 
Hunter Wilson (Lewisburg) is another guy to keep an eye on, helping the Patriots to the 2013 4A State Championship and four district championships. A first team all-district, all-metro and all-county selection, Wilson hit .289 as a senior with a double, 15 RBIs, 19 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.
 
Northwest will have only four pitchers returning from last year's staff who posted a 3.49 ERA with 10 saves, six complete games and four shutouts.
 
Liles (1-2, 3.87 ERA), J.R. Miller (4-1, 5.45), Peter Barton (2-1, 3.96) and Davis Brown (1-0, 1.40) will face bigger roles as sophomores. They combined to throw just 70 of the team's 329 innings. Along with Colt Smith, freshmen Austin Towles (South Panola), Jonathan Lindsey (Lewisburg) and Landon McFadden (Wynne, Ark.) will contribute immediately.
 
Smith is a highly-touted right-hander who played his senior year at Myrtle. He was named 1A-2A Co-Player of the Year, first team all-division, first team all-state and all-area. A 2014 Perfect Game Southeast Region Honorable Mention, Smith also hit .476 with 10 doubles and two home runs.
 
Kody Kimbrough, who split time last year with Hunter Austin, should see more action than 22 games. Despite hitting just .200 at the plate with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs, it's his defense that's the biggest asset for the Rangers. Kimbrough fielded .993 in 140 chances last year and threw out a team-high eight runners in 28 attempts. Cody Cooper, a second team all-state and two-time first team all-division selection from Lewisburg, will back him up.
 
Northwest will throw out first pitch of the 2015 season at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 at Southwest Tennessee (USA Stadium - Millington), weather permitting.

Live stats (www.sidearmstats.com/northwestms/baseball) and/or live video (NJCAATV.com/nwccrangers) will be available for most Ranger games this season. Be sure to check our schedule page on gamedays for the links.