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AL HS Team Preview: Boaz Pirates

January 30, 2023
PBR Alabama Staff

The 2023 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the Jacksonville/Oxford/Montgomery area at the AISA or AHSAA state championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Alabama. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason Top 10 in each AHSAA classification. 

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each AHSAA classification as well as a Power 25. One thing that you especially don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state as well as recaps and previews of big games across the state.  

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.


High School Name: Boaz Pirates 

Coach’s Name: Adam Keenum 

Classification: AHSAA 5A 

2022 Record: 20-13

Area Number: Class 5A, Area 13 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 6 

Team Strengths: Experienced, Returning Pitchers

Top Returning Players:

Team Outlook

The Boaz Pirates continued their steady success of making the Class 5A playoffs in 2023, finishing as the runner-up in their area and reaching the 20-win mark in the process. With much of the production from last year's returning this spring, the Pirates will look to continue to take the next step within their program in 2023.

The Pirates posted a 20-13 record last spring with quality wins in the regular season over strong programs including Arab, Albertville, Guntersville, Scottsboro, and others on the schedule. After finishing as the runner-up in Area 13 behind Sardis, the Pirates traveled to Hayden in their 1st round matchup and played the Wildcats tough in two games, but lost both games by scores of 2-0 and 5-4 to close their season. Now turning their attention to 2023, the Pirates will look to be a strong ball club that features numerous three-year starters on their roster. They bring back almost all of their offensive lineup with eight positional starters returning, and should also be experienced on the mound with six pitchers coming back that combined to throw a total of 179 innings a season ago. 3B/RHP Bo Hester (2023) is one of those three-year starters coming back this spring, and will once again look to be one of the leaders both at the plate and on the mound in his senior season. During his junior campaign, Hester hit .402 in batting average while also throwing 30 innings on the mound. He'll be expected for that same type of production this spring to help reach the goals the Pirates have for this year. RHP Branson Honea (2023) is another senior that will look to lead the charge on the mound after experiencing success over the past couple of years. The senior will look to be one their top pitchers in the rotation after collecting five wins and striking out 51 hitters in 44 innings while accumulating a 3.18 ERA in the process.

RHP Branson Honea (6/5/21)

After playing a large role last spring as a freshman, SS/RHP Tyler Pierce (2025) should continue to be one of their leaders this spring both at the plate and on the mound. Pierce, another two-way players for the Pirates, was a quality hitter in their order and made a big impact on the mound last year going 6-2 with 56 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched while allowing a 2.49 ERA. UTL/RHP Cade Whorton (Snead State CC signee, 2023) is another senior that the Pirates will look to have another strong season this spring once he gets back to full-strength. Whorton is a true utility-type player that should play multiple positions defensively including throwing some quality innings on the mound. He will also be a key force in the heart of their lineup, as well. OF Noah Long (2023) is another top-of-the-order hitter that will look to set the tone in the leadoff spot for the Pirates' offense this spring. Long will look to have an even bigger campaign this year after hitting .350 in batting average and posting a .472 OBP during his junior season. A couple more upperclassmen returning to their lineup after hitting above the .330 mark in batting average will be C Tyler Whaley (2023) and C/DH Daniel Posey (2024). Whaley is a solid defensive catcher that hit .352 last spring, while Posey finished his sophomore season at .337 to go along with 11 2B's and 25 RBI's, as well.

Boaz will stay put in Class 5A, Area 13 this spring and will compete against Sardis and Crossville for a berth in the playoffs once the end of the season comes around. The Pirates should once again be a competitive group this spring with an experienced offensive lineup and pitching staff with players who have the shown the ability to produce at the varsity level. Look for the Pirates to be another strong ball club in a deep Class 5A in 2023.

 

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