The 2022 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 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 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 

Area Number: Area 13 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 9 

Team Strengths: Experience

Top Returning Players:

• UTL Kylan Hornbuckle (Carson-Newman, 2022)
• 3B/RHP Bo Hester (2023)
• OF/LHP Noah Long (2023)
• RHP Branson Honea (2023)

Top 2023 Prospects:

• UTL/RHP Cade Whorton (2023)

Top 2024 & 2025 Prospects:

• C Daniel Posey (2024)

Team Outlook

The Boaz Pirates come into the spring of 2022 with high aspirations to make it back to the Class 5A State Playoffs. The Pirates finished as the runner-up in their area in 2021, but were unfortunately paired up with the eventual Class 5A State Champs in Russellville, and were defeated in two games. Boaz will look to build off a successful season last year and make it deeper in playoffs.

One thing that will benefit this team will be the experience that the they bring back from last year. The Pirates return eight positional starters and nine pitchers who saw playing time from last year's playoff team. UTL Kylan Hornbuckle (Carson-Newman) will provide an immediate boost for this lineup as he returns for his senior season. Hornbuckle is a big-time hitter that posted a .409 batting average last year and hit 17 doubles and 30 RBI's. He'll be an important run-producer for the Pirates this spring. 3B/RHP Bo Hester is another middle-of-the-order hitter coming back for Boaz this year, as he recorded a .348 batting average and .545 on-base percentage. He'll be counted on heavily at the plate and on the mound. OF/LHP Noah Long is another junior that returns in 2022 after serving as the leadoff hitter as a sophomore last year. Long will be relied on to log some key innings on the mound and also play quality defensive in the outfield. RHP Branson Honea has a chance to be a really quality arm in Class 5A this year, as he'll be depended on for significant innings on the mound. He's a mid-80's arm with good feel for his slider and changeup.

Although the Pirates have eight positional players returning, they do get back a key player who missed out on last year's season due to injury. UTL/RHP Cade Whorton is expected to play a key role this spring, both at the plate and on the mound. Whorton brings plenty of versatility to this team, and can play multiple positions defensively. Keep an eye out for Boaz in Class 5A this spring.

 

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