The 2021 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. That excitement may be at an all-time high entering this high school season as the 2020 high school baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season during an offseason unlike any other and as always, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.

    Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Montgomery 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 note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

 

High School: Robert E. Lee High School

Classification: AHSAA 6A Area 3

Positional Starters Returning: 8

Pitchers Returning: 6

Team Strengths: Leadership (4 starters who have started since the 9th grade)

Team Weaknesses: Focus on not letting one error beat us

 

Top Returning Players:

2021 UTIL DAnfrenee Bonner 

2021 1B/3B/RHP Tyler Franklin 

2021 OF/INF Ja’Michael Bean 

2023 RHP/INF TJ Lambert 

 

Top 2021 Prospects:

2021 RHP Davin Clinkscales 

2021 INF/OF Micah Morris 

 

Top 2022 Prospects:

2022 INF JaVeon Vansandt 

2022 OF Michael Moskowitz 

2022 1B Austin Yelder 

 

Top 2023 Prospects:

2023 INF Jerald Bonner 

2023 OF Marcus Jones 

 

Outlook: 

The Robert E. Lee Generals enter the 2021 season with their sights set on a state playoff appearnace as they battle in 6A Area 3. The Generals return will lean on an experienced group of upperclassmen as 4 of those players have been starting since their freshman season. Senior UTIL DAnfrenee Bonner returns after hitting .530 during the shortened 2020 season as he will see time as a catcher and right handed pitcher. Tyler Franklin (1B/3B/RHP) is another senior returner that enjoyed success last year as he lead the team in 2B's while hitting .341. Ja'Michael Bean also returns in 2021. The senior is the table setter for the Generals' offense as he will return to his customary lead-off spot in the batting order. Bean is a base stealing threat once he gets on. Sophomore RHP/INF TJ Lambert will be a vital component for the Generals as a pitcher on the mound and as a quality bat in the order. Look for Lambert to play a solid shortstop as he returns from injury that forced him to miss the 2020 season. Two additional seniors that will be contributors in 2021 are RHP Davin Clinkscales and INF/OF Micah Morris. Clinkscales will add some depth to the Generals pitching rotation and Morris will likely see time on the infield this spring.  JaVeon Vansandt (6'0 175 lbs.) is a junior that does a lot of good things for the Generals and can fill several positions on the field. Michael Moskowitz is another junior that should man one of the outfield spots while Austin Yelder returns for his junior season as well. The 1B brings some physicality to the lineup and will have an opprtunity to be a major run producer. Two sophomores to follow for the Generals are:

2023 INF Jerald Bonner- The sophomore will once again see time on the infield and on the mound where he exclled in both areas a year ago. 

2023 OF Marcus Jones- Another young player that will be looked on to produce in 2021 as he has been a starter for the Generals the last two seasons.

The Generals have the pieces in place to be in the thick of things in 6A Area 3. 

 

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