Alabama High School Team Preview: Valley Rams
February 11, 2021
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: Valley High School
Classification: AHSAA 6A Area 4
Positional Starters Returning: 5
Pitchers Returning: 5
Team Strengths: Pitching and competing well at the plate.
Team Weaknesses: Defensively the Rams are filling some defensive holes with young, but talented ball players.
Top Returning Players:
2021 UTL Will Kennedy
2021 LF CD Clark
2022 2B Bentley Green
Top 2021 Prospects:
2021 OF Ryan Valencia
Top 2022 Prospects:
2022 RHP/3B/1B Carter McQueen
Top 2023 and 2024 Prospects:
2023 UTL Ashton Carter
2024 3B/1B CJ Chambley
2023 C/3B Trevor Rudd
Outlook:
The Valley Rams enter the 2021 season with 5 returning positional starters and 5 pitchers that saw time on the mound a year ago as they will do battle in a very tough 6A Area 4 race. One key returner form 2020 is senior UTIL Will Kennedy. He is a 3 yr starter who pitches, plays INF and OF for the Rams. He is a vocal leader and is poised to be a big time producer at the plate, along with being a solid glove in the field, no matter where he plays. Senior RHP/SS/3B Hunter Meadows also returns. Meadows is also a 3 year starter who will be a big presence on the hill for the Rams. He will hit in the 4 hole with plenty of pop and will see time at 3B and SS for the Rams, depending on who is pitching. Another key senior that is also a 3 year starter is OF CD Clark. He has been one of the most sure reliable outfielders the Rams have had. This year he will be taking over the leadoff spot in the order. Junior 2B Bentley Green also returns with some experience as a 2 year starter. He is a solid middle infielder that looks to add to the Rams batting order after not getting many at-bats in his first season as a varsity player. The #1 player in the PBR national rankings returns in 2024 LHP/CF Jackson Sanders. The freshman is a 2 year starter having started his 7th grade year as the Rams centerfielder. A year ago he took over as the teams #1 arm as an eighth grader. He will be the Rams ace in 2021 while batting in the 3 hole, with solid juice to all fields. Sanders is an Auburn commit. Two additional seniors that will be counted on to contribute in a big way this spring are 3B Chandler Bolt and OF Ryan Valencia. Both os these seniors will both see time on the field this spring and will add some stability to the defense. Both of these seniors should also add some offensive punch to the lineup. A junior that will be expected to contribute is RHP/3B/1B Carter McQueen. The 2022 grad will look to add stability to the Rams bullpen this year. Ashton Carter (UTL), CJ Chambley (3B/1B) and Trevor Rudd (C/3B) form a very impressive group of 2 sophomores and 1 freshman (Chambley) that may be called on this year. If not this year, these 2 sophomores and freshman will definitely play a major factor in future years for the Rams as all three show a solid skill set and should develop into solid baseball players. The Rams have a dominant arm that will be tough for opponents to score on while also having some veterans back to lead the team.
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