The competition at the 6A level of Alabama high school baseball should be fierce this year, with as many as four teams viewed as viable candidates for the state title.
Incumbent Auburn figures to be the favorite thanks to the return of four all-state players, but teams from Russell County, Fairhope and Wetumpka all have the star power necessary to make a run at the crown. Following is a look at the favorites to win the state championships in each of the six classes for the state of Alabama.
6A
There figure to be plenty of teams in contention for the 6A state championship this year, starting with defending champion Auburn (Auburn, Ala.).
State coach of the year Matt Cimo returns son Tanner at second base after he won all-state honors last season. He’s joined by all-state honorable mention pick Drew Eiland at pitcher, junior Grant Massey at third base and senior Todd Thompson in the outfield.
Russell County (Seale, Ala.) took an unexpected early exit from the 6A playoffs, falling in the first round. However, all-state shortstop Tyler Dial returns along with an impressive pitching staff that includes John Mark Ramsey and Jay Shaw. First baseman Austin Jamieson also returns to give the team some clout.
Fairhope (Fairhope, Ala.) and Wetumpka (Wetumpka, Ala.) figure to challenge thanks to the return of two of the nation’s best players. Darryl Norris of Fairhope was the state MVP and was also the hitter of the year in the state. He’s joined by all-state teammate Evan East at catcher. Wetumpka, meanwhile, returns one of the nation’s best outfielders in Reggie Golden.
5A
No team in the country won more games than Hartselle’s 51 en route to the 5A state championship. All-state standouts Luke Bolle and Chad Girodo have graduated, but Ryan Joy remains in the outfield after earning honorable mention all-state status.
Tyler Dial, Russell County
Photo by Joe Boyd
Hartselle (Hartselle, Ala.) defeated both Cullman (Cullman, Ala.) and Southside (Gadsden, Ala.) en route to the state title and both of those teams will be in the mix again this year. Cullman returns all-state pick Matthew Britton at second base while Southside Gadsden welcomes back all-state designated hitter Muggsy Howard and honorable mention pick Bradley Raulsten at utility.
4A
Haleyville (Haleyville, Ala.) held off Thomasville (Thomasville, Ala.) in three games to win its first 4A state title. Coach Todd McNutt was named the state coach of the year last season and he has a talented pair returning in all-state pitcher Ryan Forester and all-state catcher Judson Sherrill.
Alabama Christian Academy (Montgomery, Ala.) might have the best chance to make a run at Hayleyville thanks to the return of three all-state players. Dillon Patterson is back at second base while Jordan Creel returns in the outfield and junior Chase Davis is back as a utility player. Alabama Christian fell to Thomasville in the semifinals.
3A
For the first time in five years Alabama had a team other than Hokes Bluff (Hokes Bluff, Ala.) win the 3A state championship. Madison Academy (Madison, Ala.) turned the trick in 2009 with a sweep of Trinity in the state finals.
Madison Academy looks loaded again with four returning all-state winners in the lineup. Stafford Booth was an all-state utility player while junior pitcher Drew Mobley, junior second baseman Jared Brinson and senior outfielder Jordan Kerr all earned honorable mention status.
Sylvania (Sylvania, Ala.) could supply the toughest competition for the defending champs. Junior pitcher Jacob Croft, the 3A state MVP and pitcher of the year, returns along with junior all-state outfielder Colt Buttram.
2A
After two straight championships, Leroy (Leroy, Ala.) fell to American Christian Academy (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) in the 2A finals last year. The 2A championship was the first for American Christian, which had won a pair of titles at the 1A level in 2005 and 2006.
Leroy will be without MaxPreps All-American Clint Moseley, who led Leroy teams to five state titles combined in football and baseball during his high school career. However, the 2A state hitter of the year, junior Ajay Snow, is back in the lineup for the Bears along with senior utility Phillip Ervin.
American Christian may be the team to beat again this year, however. Dillon Williams, the state MVP as a sophomore last year, is back after going 13-0 last season with a 0.42 ERA and 126 strikeouts. He’s joined by junior all-state backstop Marc Sullivan.
1A
Brantley (Brantley, Ala.) defeated Sweet Water (Sweet Water, Ala.) in two games last year for the state championship and it has a pair of all-state players returning to lead the charge to a second state title.
Jared Hall earned all-state honors at first base while Chase Hall made the honor squad as a designated hitter. Brantley will have to replace state MVP Anthony Gulley, who anchored the team at shortstop.
One team to challenge Brantley’s hold on the top spot is 2008 champion Athens Bible (Athens, Ala.). With all-state pitcher Jesse Gibson returning along with honorable mention all-state pick A.J. Price, Athens Bible has one of the best pitching staffs in the 1A division
Sweet Water made the state finals last year despite fielding a relatively young team. Outfielder Chris Landrum earned all-state honors as a sophomore while designated hitter Michael Thompson made the team as a freshman.
