Mississippi College Fall Report: Pitching Staff Anchors Chase for GSC Crown
- Robert Frey
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
The 2025 campaign for the Mississippi College Choctaws was nothing short of a rollercoaster that ultimately parked itself on the doorstep of history. Under the guidance of Head Coach Jeremy Haworth, now entering his 11th season at the helm, the Choctaws posted a 35-23 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the Gulf South Conference. The season was defined by a blistering stretch from March 1st to March 25th, where the squad won 15 of 16 games, propelling them into the postseason conversation. The year culminated in a Regional Final appearance, just the second in the program’s Division II era, highlighted by a dramatic victory over the No. 1 ranked Tampa Spartans before falling to them in the Regional final.
Now, as the calendar turns to 2026, Haworth faces a tale of two rosters. While the pitching staff returns nearly half of its production, the lineup undergoes a significant overhaul, returning just 14.8% of its offensive output. The challenge in Clinton will be blending a veteran mound presence with a lineup constructed intentionally through the transfer portal to sustain championship expectations.
The Offense
The narrative for the Choctaw offense is one of reinvention. The departure of prolific bats like Jordan Evans and Bryce LaRocca has left a void, but the staff believes they have recruited the necessary firepower to lengthen the lineup. The returning core is led by senior utility man Cade Gadman and senior first baseman Alex Johnson, who will be asked to shoulder heavier loads this spring. In 161 ABs, Gadman hit .236 with 2 home runs and 23 RBI last season, showing flashes of the veteran stability the team will rely on. Johnson adds experienced depth, having posted a .223 average with 1 home run and 23 RBI in 121 ABs during the 2025 campaign.
The excitement this fall centers on a heralded group of newcomers expected to make immediate impacts. Leading the charge is freshman catcher Will Langston, a 7A First Team All-State selection from Vestavia Hills High School. Langston arrives with a pedigree of production; in his senior high school season, he batted .365 with seven doubles, four home runs, and 31 RBI . He is joined behind the dish by sophomore Jake LaRocca, a Division I transfer from Louisiana Tech who was ranked as the fifth-best catcher in Louisiana by Perfect Game coming out of high school.
Reinforcing the infield is senior third baseman Jonah Katsaboulas, a transfer from UT Martin. Katsaboulas brings Division I experience to the hot corner, where he batted .278 with 11 doubles and 25 RBI in his previous stop Up the middle, shortstop Creek Robertson arrives via Memphis, bringing a defensive reputation and experience from 54 games played last season where he collected 12 doubles.
The Pitching Staff
If the offense is a question mark, the pitching staff is the exclamation point. Coach Haworth has explicitly labeled this unit as the strength of the 2026 team, citing a 44.8% retention rate of innings pitched. The staff is anchored by senior right-hander Caleb Peterson, whose fastball sits 91-93 mph. Peterson was a workhorse in 2025, posting a 6-5 record with a 4.60 ERA in 74.1 IP, while racking up 72 strikeouts.
Joining him in the rotation is a deep group of senior arms. Left-hander Blake Gollott returns after a solid campaign where he compiled a 5-1 record with a 4.93 ERA in 42.0 IP . He utilizes an 88-89 mph fastball to attack hitters. The right-handed Dylan Cope also brings stability, having logged a 2-1 record with a 2.87 ERA in 37.2 IP last season, armed with a fastball that sits 86-88 mph.
Perhaps the highest ceiling belongs to senior right-hander Coby Gollott, who is generating buzz as a potential MLB Draft prospect. Featuring a heater that touches 95 mph, Gollott posted a 3-3 record with a 5.63 ERA in 32.0 IP last spring. Left-hander Taylor Ballard also returns to the mix, sitting 89-91 mph with his fastball.
The staff is further bolstered by intriguing newcomers. Senior right-hander Connor Pittman, a 6-foot-7 transfer from Memphis, brings an imposing frame and an 88-90 mph fastball. Another Division I transfer, Cooper Cooksey from South Alabama, adds a lively arm that sits 91-93 mph. On the youth front, freshman right-hander Tyler Swann touches 92 mph, while freshman lefty Colin Jones arrives as the 12th ranked LHP in Alabama, fresh off a high school season where he posted a 2.20 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 34 innings.
Key Departures
While the future is bright, the Choctaws must navigate the loss of significant production from a lineup that produced deep postseason results. The offense loses First Team All-GSC outfielder Jordan Evans, who transferred to Tampa after a stellar season where he hit .347 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI. Also departing is Bryce LaRocca, a First Team All-GSC selection who paced the lineup with a .356 average, 16 homers, and 70 RBI. The lineup also bids farewell to First Team All-GSC utility man Korey Cooper, who leaves a gap after batting .348 with 12 home runs and 58 RBI.
The middle of the infield sees the exit of First Team All-GSC shortstop Logan Shurden, who provided stability by hitting .321 with three home runs and 43 RBI. Power production takes another hit with the loss of Second Team All-GSC outfielder JT Vance, who batted .307 while mashing 16 home runs and driving in 63 runs. On the mound, the team loses workhorse Holland Townes, who threw a team-high 84.2 innings in 2025, finishing with a 4-5 record, a 5.85 ERA, and 83 strikeouts.
Schedule & Outlook
The road to another Regional Final appearance begins at home on January 30th when Mississippi College hosts Indianapolis for a four-game set at Frierson Field. The non-conference slate tests them early with a trip to Dahlonega, Georgia, to face North Georgia in early February. Gulf South Conference play opens with a challenging road series against West Alabama starting February 13th, setting the tone for a gauntlet that includes road trips to traditional powers like Delta State later in the spring.
With a pitching staff ready to compete every weekend and a revamped lineup looking to prove itself, the Choctaws believe they are capable of contending for a GSC championship and making another deep postseason run.
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