The 2024 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 the Jacksonville/Oxford/Montgomery area 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 rankings 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 ranks in each AHSAA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Prattville Lions
Head Coach: JR Myers
Classification: AHSAA Class 7A
Area Number: Class 7A, Area 3
2023 Record (Finish): 19-17 (Eliminated in 1st Round)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: -
No. of Returning Pitchers: 9
Team Strengths: Pitching

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• RHP/3B Zack Ervie (2024; Lawson State CC)
• RHP Andrew Hicks (2024; Coastal Alabama-South CC, 2024)

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MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2024

• 1B Landon Sumrall (2024; uncommitted)

Class of 2025

• SS Mason Piper (2025; uncommitted)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• RHP/INF Paxton Genola (2026)
• RHP/INF Jacob Glidden (2026)
• RHP Chris Hardaway (2026)
• LHP Brody Crovato (2026)
• OF Dorsett Jackson (2026)
• OF Holt Stovall (2026)
• INF/RHP Aiden Urnis (2026)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Prattville Lions reached the playoffs in Class 7A for the second conseuctive season in 2023, which is no small feat being one of the last 16 teams still standing in the largest classification in Alabama. With a new face at the helm in JR Myers, the Lions will look to continue their winnings ways this spring behind a strong pitching staff.

The Lions finished as the winner of their area last season and hosted the 1st round of the playoffs against Baker, but were ultimately eliminated in two games to close their season with 19-17 record. Entering 2024, the Lions have hopes of getting back to the Class 7A playoffs and advancing further, as they've been eliminated in the 1st round the last two seasons. One of this team's main strengths this spring is undoubtedly their pitching. The Lions have a strong top-end of their starting pitching rotation, and also have some key options that can come out of the bullpen to get outs in tight situations. RHP/3B Zack Ervie (Lawson State CC, 2024) and RHP Andrew Hicks (2024) is a strong 1-2 punch returning for their senior seasons after throwing the majority of the innings a season ago as juniors. SS Mason Piper (2025) is regarded as one of the top uncommitted shortstops in the junior class in AL, and will see his role continue to grow this spring as one of their top returning hitters from last year. 1B Landon Sumrall (2024) is another returning upperclassmen who did some good things last season as a junior, and will be a important piece to their offensive success this spring. The Lions should also feature a strong core of upperclassmen this spring, as primary pitchers like RHP/INF Paxton Genola (2026), RHP/INF Jacob Glidden (2026), RHP Chris Hardaway (2026), and LHP Brody Crovato (2026) are all sophomores who should provide depth on the mound, while OF Dorsett Jackson (2026), OF Holt Stovall (2026), and INF/RHP Aiden Urnis (2026) have a chance to make an impact offensively.

Looking at this year's roster on paper, the Lions shouldn't lack talent, as they have some key pieces returning both at the plate and on the mound. They'll compete in Area 3 against Dothan, Enterprise, Jeff Davis, and Lee-Montgomery for a berth in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Expect Prattville to once again be a talented, competitive club in Class 7A in 2024.

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Find more information on the 2024 Prattville High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @PrattvilleBB
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2024 HS Team Previews

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FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL ALABAMA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Alabama on X
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Facebook

 

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