The 2026 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: Bayside Academy Admirals
Head Coach: Matt Limbaugh
Classification & Area Number: Class 4A, Area 1
2025 Record (Finish): 19-15 (1st Round)

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• OF Noah Cain (Shelton State CC, 2026)
• RHP/1B Grady Stokes (2026)
• RHP Wyatt Williams (Gadsden State CC, 2026)
• 3B Will Fitzhugh (2027)
• SS TJ Bailey (2027)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• SS/RHP Cooper Mason (2030)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Bayside Academy heads into the 2026 season looking to build on a 19-15 campaign that ended with a first-round playoff exit, a year that showed both promise and areas to sharpen in a competitive Class 4A, Area 1 landscape. With a roster that blends experienced upperclassmen and a wave of young talent, the Admirals enter the spring aiming to take the next step and turn offseason progress into postseason results.

The core of this group is anchored by several proven contributors. OF Noah Cain (Shelton State CC, 2026) returns as a four-year starter and a steady leader in the lineup, setting the tone for a group that values consistency and competitiveness. On the mound and at first base, RHP/1B Grady Stokes (2026) provides a reliable two-way presence, while RHP Wyatt Williams (Gadsden State CC, 2026) adds another experienced arm to the front of the pitching staff. The infield is strengthened by 3B Will Fitzhugh (2027) and SS TJ Bailey (2027), both of whom give Bayside stability and athleticism on the left side. The Admirals will also lean on a highly touted underclassman in SS/RHP Cooper Mason (2030), one of the top 2030 prospects in Alabama, who is expected to be asked to contribute early, including on the mound, as part of a young but talented supporting cast.

Looking ahead, Bayside’s strengths revolve around team unity and leadership, particularly from Cain, who continues to be a strong example for the younger players. “Big mix of upper and lower classmen but have gelled together in the offseason. Will be asking for 8th graders to step up into varsity roles. Solid schedule which will help get them battle tested come Area play,” said head coach Matt Limbaugh. With a demanding schedule and a roster that blends experience with youth, the Admirals will look to be battle-tested by the time area play arrives and push deeper into the postseason in 2026.

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Find more information on the 2026 Bayside Academy program below:

+ Follow them on X or Facebook: @BaysideBSB | Bayside Academy Baseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2026 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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