Prep Baseball Report

AL HS Team Preview: Oak Mountain Eagles


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: Oak Mountain Eagles

Coach’s Name: Derek Irons 

Classification: AHSAA 7A 

2022 Record: 21-14

Area Number: Class 7A, Area 4 

No. of Returning Positional Starters:

No. of Returning Pitchers:

Team Strengths: Pitching  

Top Returning Players:

Top 2023 Prospects:

Top 2024 Prospects:

  • LHP/OF Owen Edwards (2024)
  • RHP/SS Noah Eady (2024)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

Team Outlook

The Oak Mountain Eagles enjoyed a solid regular season last spring in a competitive Class 7A where they ended up winning over 20 games. They have a few players they'll need to replace this spring, particularly in the middle of the order, but seem to have the talent to do so to have another successful spring in 2023.

Although posting a 21-14 record a season ago, the Eagles unfortunately missed the Class 7A playoffs in one of the toughest areas in the state with Tuscaloosa County, Hoover, and Thompson. They move from Area 5 to Area 4 this spring, and will compete against Hewitt-Trussville, Spain Park, and Chelsea for a spot in the Class 7A playoffs at the end of the season. The Eagles will need to replace a few key contributors from last year's graduating senior class, including Davis Gillespie, Andrew Hunt, and Maddox Macrory, but the future of the program looks bright with some talented prospects on this roster. LHP/OF Matthew Heiberger (Alabama signee, 2023) is one of the state's top-ranked southpaws with a fastball that works in the upper-80's with good feel for his breaking ball. He continues to get bigger and stronger, as he now stands 6-foot-4, 200-pounds. Like the last few years, he's played a big part in the success of Oak Mountain's basketball programs, including a Class 7A State Title two seasons ago, so it may take some time for him to get to mid-season form on the diamond after the Eagles' basketball season ends.

LHP Matthew Heiberger (4/1/22)

A pair of junior prospects to watch for this spring that are ranked inside the Top-50 in the junior class in AL will be 3B/RHP Kevin Jasinski (2024) and SS/RHP Nick McCord (2024). Both were big pieces to last year's success as sophomores, and they will look to step into leadership roles this spring with more experience under their belt. McCord, a member of Team Alabama at last summer's PBR Future Games, is a line-drive type hitter that has a fastball that will get up into the upper-80's with competitive stuff, while Jasinski has shown feel for the barrel from the right side with athletic actions.

3B Kevin Jasinski (2/19/22)
SS Nick McCord (7/27/22)

Also looking to help lead the charge on the mound with Heiberger will be RHP Garrison Kahn (2023), a Top-40 prospect in the senior class in AL. The senior right-hander has a strong arm on the mound and is very effective when he's pounding the zone with all of his offerings, while also looking to provide senior leadership for this team.

RHP Garrison Kahn (7/25/22)

With last year's seniors graduating, there will need to be some newer faces step up and help fills those needs at the varsity level this spring. The Eagles have some talented players that may not have as much experienced, but are looking to make their impact this year including LHP/OF Owen Edwards (2024), RHP/SS Noah Eady (2024), and RHP/SS Xander Hughes (2026). Hughes is an exciting young prospect with upside both on the mound and at the plate.

SS/RHP Xander Hughes (1/7/23)

Playing in the largest classification in the state, nothing ever seems to come easy with how many talented teams there are in Class 7A. Playing in arguably one of the toughest areas in the state, regardless of classification, Oak Mountain will look to be playing their best baseball once the end of the season rolls around this spring. The Eagles will once again be a team to watch in Class 7A in 2023.

 

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