Alabama HS Team Preview: Bob Jones Patriots

2019 Team Previews:

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High School: Bob Jones

2018 Record: 36-14

Head Coach: Jared Smith

AHSAA Classification: 7A

AHSAA Area: 8

2018 Area Finish: 1st

2018 Playoff Run: State Semi Finals

RETURNING STARTERS:

Dylan Ray ‘20 RHP/3B/CF

Slate Alford ‘21 3B

Cam Hill ‘20 LHP/1B

Caden Rose ‘20 SS/RHP

Nick Brown ‘20 RHP

Mitchell Daly ‘20 SS

Austin East ‘19 LHP

John Michael Riley ‘19 RHP/C/CF

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH:

Ben Creekmore ‘20 RHP

TEAM STRENGTHS:

Offensive power

Middle infield and 1B play

Pitching depth

Left hand pitching at top of rotation

Experience

OUTLOOK:

The Patriots enter the 2019 season with high expectations after a Final 4 run in 2018 and return just about their entire roster. Eight starters in the field return and ten pitchers that logged significant innings for the Patriots also return. Even with all of this returning experience, Coach Jared Smith’s team is still made up of a strong 2020 class. Leading the way is 2020 RHP/3B/CF Dylan Ray (Alabama commit), our #1 ranked player in the state in the 2020 class who is also ranked #24 nationally. Ray is a legitimate 2 way threat and the Patriots hope he recovers soon enough from ACL surgery for baseball season. The Patriots are in no way a one man team as there is plenty of firepower behind Ray. The middle infield is in great shape with a pair of 2020 high profile players in Caden Rose (Alabama commit) and Mitchell Daly (Texas commit) while 2020 Camden Hill (Auburn commit) will man 1B and log a lot of innings from the left side. Rose will also see time on the mound as well. Slate Alford (Auburn commit) is a big time bat in the 2021 class that will play 3B after a phenomenal freshman season. 2019 LHP Austin East (UAH signee) is a guy that can really locate all three pitches and 2020 RHP Nick Brown has seen a big jump in his velocity (low 90’s) and has seen his recruitment take off. Both will be counted on to play significant roles on the mound. 2019 John Michael Riley can do a little bit of everything (RHP/C/OF) and has several offers after a 2018 All State Honorable Mention season. Others to keep an eye on for the Patriots are 2019 OF Colten Carver, 2019 RHP Andrew Wright and 2019 RHP Luke Tralango (transfer from Sparkman HS), while 2020 RHP Ben Creekmore returns after logging 27 IP in 2019.  The Patriots come into the 2019 season looking to cut down on strikeouts and in need of a “true” catcher. No doubt, expectations are high for the 2019 season and the Patriots will play a grueling schedule in hopes of preparing for a deep playoff run