Alabama High School Team Preview: Lauderdale County Tigers
February 15, 2019
2019 Team Previews:
Don't have a PBR Profile? No problem. Fill one out here for FREE.
High School: Lauderdale County
2018 Record: 22-16-1
Head Coach: Corey Looney
AHSAA Classification: 3A
AHSAA Area: 16
2018 Area Finish: 1st
2018 Playoff Run: State runner up
RETURNING STARTERS:
Slade Brown ‘20 C
Blade Wisdom ‘20 OF
Alex Newton ‘19 3B/1B
UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH:
Nathan Grisham ‘21 RHP
Holden Stanfield ‘21 OF
Ethan Hamm ‘22 LHP
Brodie Reeves ‘22 LHP
TEAM STRENGTHS:
Gained valuable experience last year with a young team
Will play quality competition (vs. several higher classification teams)
Return 6 starters from state runner up team
OUTLOOK:
There is a lot of optimism surrounding the 2019 edition of the Lauderdale County baseball team after a successful 2018 season that saw the Tigers get beat in the 3A state championship series. Several young players gained valuable experience last year as Coach Corey Looney welcomes back 6 positional starters and 5 pitchers that saw time on the mound. The experience gained in 2018 should serve as a team strength this year and Coach Looney would like to see his team do a better job on the base paths in 2019. Of the returnees, 2020 C Slade Brown returns behind the plate. Brown is a physical player (6’3 220 lbs.) that enjoyed a successful 2018 season and will be called on to do the same this season. In 2018 he hit .449 with 16 2B’s, 3 HR’s and 31 RBI’s. Blade Wisdom is another junior that had a huge year in 2018 hitting .419 with 11 2B’s, 6 3B’s, 4 HR’s, 32 RBI’s and 35 SB’s. The OF has very good speed and nice instincts on the field. 2019 1B/3B Alex Newton is another strong, physical player for the Tigers that shows solid actions in the field with plenty of arm strength across the diamond. Newton also shows some juice at the plate. 2021 RHP Nathan Grisham is an intriguing arm that has been up to 82 mph on the mound. He can command three pitches and this projects to possibly be an area game starter. Another sophomore, OF Holden Stanfield, was a freshman starter a year ago. He hit .315 with 8 2B’s, 1 HR, 24 RBI’s and had 12 SB’s. He shows a short, compact swing from the left side. Two 2022 LHP’s also factor into the Tigers plans in 2019. One of those is Ethan Hamm who may project out of the bullpen in area games and can throw all 3 pitches for strikes. Brodie Reeves is the other and may find himself in the same role as Hamm. His FB will be in the mid 70’s with legit arm side run but his best pitch is his changeup that shows late tumble away from RH hitters. The Tigers enter the 2019 season as one of the favorites in 3A to be playing in Montgomery in May.