Coming off a fourth 30-win season in the last five years and ninth straight postseason appearance, Northwest Mississippi is looking to take the next step in the always tough MACJC and Region 23. 

The 2018 edition of Ranger baseball brings back a wealth of experience with 17 returners, in addition to two key SEC transfers, and welcomes 12 freshmen to a very talented lineup under the direction of 13th-year head coach Mark Carson.

Carson's overall record with the Rangers stands at 352-244-2, with nine straight postseason trips and four MACJC runner-up finishes the last seven years. Since taking over for Donny Castle in 2006, the Rangers have won 30 or more games six times and have finished with a winning record in 11 consecutive seasons.

Last season's squad advanced to both the MACJC Tournament and NJCAA Region 23 Tournament, closing the year at 32-19 overall and 17-11 in MACJC play. Northwest was 5-2 against ranked opponents, including an 11-1 thumping of then-No. 1 Jones County to end the Bobcats' 26-game winning streak.

Receiving votes in the final 2017 NJCAA poll, voters have gone all in on the Rangers this season and rewarded Northwest with a lofty No. 7 ranking to open the 2018 season – the school's highest preseason ranking in 15 years.

"It's humbling that coaches around our league and the country have that opinion of our baseball program," Carson said. "Preseason rankings are a good starting point, but at the end of the day, you have to go prove your worth and earn that national ranking."

Out of the 17 returners, nine saw action in 20 or more games in the field and seven pitched in 10 games or more, with the lone exception catcher Jake McPhail who was injured in the fifth game of the season.

With seven pitchers returning, Northwest's bullpen could be one of the best weapons on this year's team and should be a big factor in a postseason run. 

Of the seven returning, three are probable starters in left-handers Harrison Sandridge (3-1, 2.91 ERA, 54 K) and Ian Hawkins (0-3, 5.88, 31 K) and right-hander Kyle Moore (2-1, 4.02, 33 K). Nathan Harrison, Trey Morrison, Cody McGarrity and Drew Hurst are all back in relief roles.

The fourth starting spot is up for grabs to start the season. Southpaw Jake Tyrone (Lewisburg), as well as righty Reed Logsdon (DeSoto Central), are two guys who have impressed in the fall.  Tyrone can really command four pitches, which is a rarity in our league, while Logsdon has a plus-arm and can throw it in the strike zone consistently. There should be several other options out there as well as the season progresses.

Northwest's 3.64 team ERA ranked 14th in the country last year in addition to a school record 338 strikeouts. Delta State signee Dalton Minton (69) and USM signee Jarod Wright (64) led the way, while Sandridge, Hawkins and Moore combined for nearly a third of those.

With the hiring of former Ranger and professional Domenick Carlini in January, Carson has turned over pitching duties to a rookie coach in his first season after he handled it for the last 12 years as the head coach.

"It's a little taxing having to manage and keep up with the flow of a game while also handling pitching, defensive changes and other things," Carson said. This will allow me a little more freedom and to spread myself out a bit. It's going to be big for us down the road and I think our guys will welcome the change."

Behind the plate, freshman Tanner Booth, who helped lead Lewisburg to five consecutive district championships, has emerged as an everyday starter. Sophomores Jake McPhail, Hunter White and Bailey Nix could all see time on the back end of doubleheaders. White, whose primary position is an outfielder, did an admirable job last season having to catch 27 straight games down the stretch due to two injuries on the team. He threw out 14 runners attempting to steal, third-most in a single season.

As far as catchers are concerned, it's worth noting that the MACJC baseball coaches voted to do away with courtesy running for the catcher. For a lot of teams, that will really change the way they set their lineups. 

Around the diamond, Northwest returns middle infielders Dakota Dailey (.295, 22 RBIs, .978 FLD%) and Brooks Boolos (.266, 19 RBIs, 28 runs), as well as Justin Milam, Baron Davies and Brody Catt on the corners.

Talented freshmen Tanner Leggett (Central Hinds), Bradley Smith (DeSoto Central) and Ben Van Cleve (Indianola Academy) are all fighting for starting roles entering the year. Leggett, a four-time all-conference nod and four-sport star, hit .408 with eight homers last year, while Van Cleve batted .518 his senior year and over .440 for his four-year career. The duo was named MAIS AAA Co-MVPs last season for their respective teams. 

Gritty, scrappy situational hitting and aggressiveness on the base paths is what fits the bill for longtime hitting coach Bill Selby in terms of the offense. Northwest has ranked among the nation's best in batting average for the past decade, while stealing 100 or more bases in five of the last seven seasons.

Coach Carson agrees that the Rangers have more speed this season than he's ever had. Dailey, Grant McMinn and Will Brooks are the type of guys who can swipe 20 or more bases this year.

The Rangers will be without their top three hitters from a year ago in David Herrington (Delta State), Spencer Cayten (William Carey) and Aaron Campbell (Austin Peay), but shouldn't miss a beat with the addition of guys like Brant Blaylock (DeSoto Central/Mississippi State), Hayden Leatherwood (CBHS/Vanderbilt) and Van Cleve to name a few.

The two transfers bring a lot of athleticism and juice to the lineup, while Van Cleve is a power guy that should put up big numbers. Blaylock, who played in 36 games at Mississippi State last year, will also see time on the mound.

McMinn, Brooks, Blaylock and Leatherwood will split time in the outfield, while you could see McMinn play first base some and Leatherwood fill the DH spot. Freshmen Brayland Skinner (Lake Cormorant), Pedro Rubio (Strayhorn) and Tyrone will compete for time as well.

"We have so many options and talent that we'll have to get creative getting guys at-bats," Carson said. "I want to give guys as many reps and at-bats early in the year. I'm not one of those coaches who usually sticks with one lineup, I like to give as many guys opportunities as possible."

Northwest will open with 12 straight games at Jim Miles Field and also has an eight-game and 10-game homestand during the year. A two-week road stretch late March, including a doubleheader at No. 1 Jones, will be the Rangers' biggest challenge for a run at their first conference championship since 2000.

Like last season, the conference champion will be determined in the regular season. The top nine teams will then advance to a best-of-three playoff, followed by a six-team NJCAA Region 23 Tournament in Eunice, La., May 16-19.