Baseball: What’s in store for area teams as the new season unfolds

MADISON – As high school baseball begins its move through the 2025 schedule remnants of the 2024 campaigns radiate through the area, especially on the confines of Bob Jones as defending Class 7A State Champion. Within the longstanding program was the Alabama Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Hitter of the Year, but only one of those elite players return to the 2025 while the squad will have a bevy of returning players this spring.

Meanwhile, the remaining three local teams look to the new year to increase their production of victories with their sights set on bringing home a State Championship trophy as the Patriots did a year ago.

BOB JONES

“We feel good about the upcoming season with multiple returners from last year’s championship team, said Jared Smith, head coach of Bob Jones. “We are deep in the outfield and return two of our top three arms.”

One huge returning player is Zack Johnson (C, 6-1, 200, Sr.). The Hitter of the Year in Alabama, who signed with Alabama on National Signing Day, played in 94 games for the Patriots with 90 hits, 96 RBIs, 9 homers and a .350 batting average. He’s been touted as a top prospect after being named All-State as a junior. He returns behind the plate for the third consecutive season.

Additional key returners for the Patriots include Tanner Hermesch (P/INF, 6-1, 240, Sr.), a Shelton State signee, Jack Shaw (P, 6-2, 210, Sr.) signed with Wallace State-Dothan after a 9-0 season on the mound a year ago who had 16 starts with 90.66 innings pitched with 73 strikeouts and a marvelous 2.085 ERA; Dillon Adkins (OF/1B/P, 5-10, 185, Sr.); Myles Hammonds (MIF/OF, 5-9, 165, Sr.); Cam Martin (OF/2B/P, 5-7, 170, Sr.), Robert Chatmon II (OF/2B, 5-5, 170, Sr.), a Beville State signee, who played in 40 games with 16 hits, 10 RBIs, 21 runs and a .216 batting average; Vincent Howald (3B, 6-1, 230, Sr.); Tiger Flanigan (OF, 5-10, 170, Sr.) who signed his future with Wallace State-Hanceville.

Smith is looking to some top-notch newcomers to jump on the victory train with Cole Panier (1B/P, 6-2, 225, Jr.); Josh Wilhide (P/1B, 6-0, 200, Jr.); Reece Brazeal (P/3B/1B, 6-14, 185, Jr.); Micah Sigler (INF/P, 5-10, 155, Fr.).

‘We feel good about the upcoming season with multiple returners from last year’s (44-9) championship team,” added Smith, in his tenth season with the Patriots. “Questions marks about our squad are the infield defense and depth on the pitching staff. We do like our chances to compete for the 7A state once we get all of the parts in place.”

JAMES CLEMENS

The Jets were a state semi-finalist while posting a 32-13 overall record and Johnny Johnson, in his seventh season as head coach, knows he will lean on many players who haven’t seen a lot of innings on the field at the varsity level. “We have a small senior class of 10, but they brought a lot into our ‘county lie culture,” said Johnson. In all, the roster includes 13 juniors, three sophomores and one freshman.

According to Johnson, key returning players feature juniors Matthew Drinkwater (INF/RHP, 6-1, 190, Jr.) an All-Area performer who batted .239; Jesse Isensee (INF/RHP, 5-9, 155, Jr.) a 2024 All-Area selection who batted .275 with 19 hits with 15 RBIs; Will Votorubek (RHP, 6-2, 210, Jr.), who will be a highly recruited arm; Brooks Rhodes (OF, 5-9, 150, Jr.) who has lots of speed; Tyler Lewis (OF/ LHP, 5-19, 150, Jr.); Senior Cody Hodges (RHP, 6-1, 195, Sr.) a few college offers on the line; Sophomores Will Congo, (UTL/ RHP, 5-10, 165, So.) a emerging impactful two-way player; Hudson Smith (C, 5-10, 150, So.).

“It would be easy to say for those from the outside that this is a rebuilding year, but although we may be thin in some spots, depth wiser we have a talented group of young players,” added Johnson.

Newcomers to the Jets include seniors Trip Morgan (1B, 6-4, 215, Sr.) a real power potential who is a possible college player and Ian Berry (OF/1B, 6-0, 170, Sr.) an expected senior leader with great potential at the plate along with juniors Hayden Udovich (INF, 5-10, 160, Jr.) who is being looked at for his speed both on the base paths and defensively and Brayden Powless (RHP, 5-10, 125, Jr.) a pitcher with what Johnson said has a funky pitching arm. Bryson Hodge (OH/ RHP, 5-10, 150, Fr.) is the only freshman to make varsity has enormous talent and could make an impact on the 2025 squad.

SPARKMAN

With a playoff berth and a 27-11 record behind them from last season, the 2025 Senators from Sparkman are looking at 17 players from the senior and junior classes to make a difference in this year’s squad. He’s also seeing his top performer could come from the sophomore class as Braxton Williams (P/3B, 6-2, 200, So.) is gaining momentum as the No. 4 rated player in Alabama among the 2027 class. Many experts feel you won’t find many more prospects that are physically imposing as the third baseman and pitcher. Second year head coach Ben Stevenson knows his star player will bring the heat, but he knows there’s more to the team aspect of the squad. He added, “We are excited to bring back much more experience this year as opposed to what we had going into last season.”

Sparkman finished the 2024 campaign in the playoffs and a 27-11 record.

Returning players who are expected to make a difference are Ryan Goss (MIF, 5-10, 160, Sr.), R.J. Freiholtz (P/IF, 6-2, 140, Sr.), who has signed with King University, Brenner VanDeWynckel (P/OF, 6-10, 160, Jr.) and Will Peccia (1B/C, 5-10, 155, Jr.).

“There is still plenty of young talent that we will need to rely on throughout the year, but we also have some stable senior leaders who will be vital to both the lineup and our locker room,” said Stevenson. “We are looking to build on some of the success we were able to achieve last year and hope to provide an introduction to our players of where we want this program to go. We feel good about our willingness to go out and compete each day, and we are looking forward to getting the season started.”

MADISON ACADEMY

With 13 seniors on the 2025 roster, Madison Academy will have the largest senior class in the history of the baseball program. Ninth-year head coach David Pressley couldn’t be more prepared for a season to get underway as seven of his seniors have already signed college scholarship even before the first pitch of the new season is thrown.

Tee Foster (INF/P, Sr.) is a Montevallo signee as a three-years starter playing in 122 games for the team. He was named All-Area for three consecutive years and was tabbed Pitcher of the Year in 2024. Myles Johnson (P/INF/OF, Sr.) was named All-Area in 2024 as both a pitcher and outfielder. He signed with Eastern Kentucky. Jack Doyle is a three-year varsity pitcher with 132 strikeouts heading into his senior season after signing with UAH. Shane Duke (1B/P, Sr.) had a splendid season on the mound and at the plate after coming off surgery. He had 3 homers with 18 RBIs and signed with Shelton State. Gabe Evers (IF, Sr.) played in 35 of the team’s 37 games in 2024 and was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year and put his name on a scholarship at Limestone University. Noah Jarre (RHP/INF, Sr.) is a transfer from James Clemens and has yet to play for a game for the Mustangs. Pressley is expecting his to fit into the Mustangs’ roster easily. Tyler Holder (INF, Sr.), a Barton College signee, has battled injuries the last two seasons, but is ready to show his talents as a healthy Mustang in 2025.

Madison Academy was 22-15 in 2024 and lost to Sardis in the second-round of the Class 5A playoffs for the second consecutive year.