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Alabama HS Team Preview: Vestavia Hills Rebels

February 13, 2024
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

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: Vestavia Hills Rebels
Head Coach: Jamie Harris
Classification: AHSAA Class 7A
Area Number: Class 7A, Area 5
2023 Record (Finish): 34-11 (State Champion)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 2
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3
Team Strengths: Trio of Talented Southpaws, Speed & Strength in Outfield, Team Speed, Ability to Hit for Extra Bases

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

C/3B John Paul Head (4/29/23)

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2024

INF Dean Walker (5/23/22)

Class of 2025

OF Carson Mann (7/11/23)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

INF/RHP Gavin Smith (1/6/24)

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Vestavia Hills Rebels enjoyed a historic season in 2023 capturing the Class 7A State Championship by defeating Central-Phenix City in an exciting three-game series. Hopes are high once again this spring and while they may have lost some talent, the Rebels always seem to reload with the next wave of prospects and this year looks to be no different. 

The Rebels were as consistent as anyone in Class 7A last spring and were ranked inside the top-5 for the majority of the season. Finishing as the runner-up in the toughest area in Alabama, the Rebels left no doubt who they best team in Class 7A was by defeating Sparkman, Spain Park, Thompson, and Central-Phenix City to claim the Class 7A State Championship. Starting off the season ranked No. 2 in the Class 7A Top-10, the Rebels will look to get off on the right foot in the Prep Baseball Alabama Kickoff Classic coming up this weekend. C/3B John Paul Head (Alabama-Birmingham, 2024) has been a staple in their lineup for the past couple of seasons and assumes an even bigger role this spring as one of the main primary run-producers. OF William Tonsmeire (Southern Miss, 2025) and OF Caden Taylor (Northwest-Shoals CC, 2024) are two more exciting offensive pieces coming back, while INF Mason Perrigo (2024) saw significant playing time last year and is looking to build off of his junior campaign. LHP/1B Bruce Littleton (Southern Miss, 2025) saw some time on the mound as a sophomore in 2023 and will see his workload continue to increase this spring with an upper-80's fastball on the mound. While needing to replace some of last year's graduating seniors, the Rebels boast a strong core of talent in the junior and senior classes. INF Dean Walker (2024), RHP Cannon Cherry (2024), RHP Sam Snowden (2024), RHP Matthew Ledbetter (2024), C Will Bourland (2024), 1B Miles Plugge (2024), and 3B Clark Dickerson (2024) are all senior who are looking to compete for roles and playing time this spring, while OF Carson Mann (2025), C/INF James Lucas (2025), LHP Colin Jones (2025), LHP Chase Rafferty (2025), and C/1B Will Langston (2025) are some talented juniors who are looking to get in the mix this spring and have bright futures ahead. While there's plenty of juniors and seniors on the roster this year, the Rebels feature an exciting class of underclassmen who have the talent to play at the varsity level this spring and hope to make a sizable impact this spring. INF/RHP Gavin Smith (2026) and OF Cross Tonsmeire (2026) are a pair of sophomores who are ranked inside the top-25 in the 2026 class in AL, while INF Charlie Taaffe (2027) is also regarded as one of the top players in his class, as he comes in at No. 10 in the 2027 class in AL. All three have their best days ahead of them and are looking to compete for playing time this season.

The Rebels start off the season ranked No. 2 in Class 7A, but the classification is wide-open this season and is once again a gauntlet, especially their area. They'll compete in Area 5 against Hoover, Thompson, and Tuscaloosa County for a berth in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Vestavia Hills look poised for another strong season and enter 2024 as one of the favorites to repeat in Class 7A this season.

Find more information on the 2024 Vestavia Hills High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @1RebelBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2024 HS Team Previews

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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