Alabama High School Team Preview: Florence Falcons
January 28, 2019
2019 Team Previews:
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High School: Florence
2018 Record: 19-16
Head Coach: Steve Garrett
AHSAA Classification: 7A
AHSAA Area: 8
2018 Area Finish: 3rd
2018 Playoff Run: N/A
RETURNING STARTERS:
Zeke Bishop ‘21 RHP/3B/1B
Ben Arnett ‘20 2B/3B
Grant Taylor ‘21 RHP/1B
Austin Stanfield ‘19 C/1B
Brantley Holden ‘19 CF/SS
Cade Henry ‘20 RHP
UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH:
Cason Henry ‘21 RHP/SS
Parker White ‘21 OF
Raleigh Claunch ‘21 IF/OF
TEAM STRENGTHS:
Pitching depth
OUTLOOK:
The Falcons welcome back some big time arms on the mound in 2019 and also move up to 7A from 6A this season. Four starters in the field return in 2019 and 3 pitchers return as well. The Falcons will be in an extremely tough area with Bob Jones, Austin and James Clemens but their high profile arms should keep them in any game they play. With these type of arms the Falcons should not have to score a ton of runs. Offensive production and dealing with a lack of experience at some key spots will be key to Coach Steve Garrett’s club in 2019. Some guys that will be counted on heavily from an offensive production are guys that had solid 2018 seasons. Zeke Bishop is a 2021 RHP/3B that should be a run producer for the Falcons. The physical sophomore has some juice at the plate, and should also help on the mound with his mid 80’s FB. He is ranked # 25 in the 2021 state player rankings. Ben Arnett (ranked #39 in the state 2020 player rankings) is a junior that should be a spark plug in the lineup and is a solid defender on the infield, as he can play 2B or 3B. Parker White is a 2021 OF that can run and should be a nice left handed bat in the Florence lineup. A couple of seniors will also bolster the Falcon lineup in senior C/1B Austin Stanfield and OF/SS Brantley Holden. Holden (a Calhoun CC signee) is very solid in CF and has good speed. Sophomore Raleigh Claunch continues the Claunch family tradition at Florence as a durable IF/OF. The pitching depth for the Falcons is legit. Leading the way is 2021 RHP Grant Taylor (who will also play some 1B) who has continued to progress on the mound the last few years. He will bring a low to mid 90’s FB to the mound to go along with solid secondary stuff. He is the #1 player in the state in the 2021 class and #8 nationally and committed to LSU. Another high profile 2021 RHP for the Falcons is Cason Henry. He will show an upper 80’s FB with a sharp slider. The University of Miami commit is ranked # 4 in the state in the 2021 state player rankings, and #118 nationally. Cason’s older brother, 2020 RHP Cade Henry, is also a big time arm on the mound with an upper 80’s FB and a feel for his offspeed stuff. The University of South Alabama commit is ranked #23 in the 2020 state player rankings. The Falcons will be a formidable opponent for anyone this year and should be right in the middle of the area race.