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: Florala Wildcats
Head Coach: Tyler Zessin
Classification & Area Number: Class 1A, Area 2
2025 Record (Finish): 20-10 (Elite 8)

---

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• LHP/OF Easton Walsh (Lurleen B. Wallace CC, 2026)
• UTL/RHP Jacob Lara (2026)
• 1B/RHP Ayden Brooks (2026)
• C Dawson Reeves (2026)
• SS/RHP Noah Bryan (2027)
• INF Gage Davis (2027)
• OF Greyson West (2027)

---

TEAM OUTLOOK

Florala enters the 2026 season coming off another highly successful run in Class 1A, finishing 20-10 and advancing to the Elite 8, where the Wildcats fell in three games to state runner-up Leroy. The 2025 campaign marked Florala’s third straight Area title and third consecutive season reaching at least the second round of the playoffs, further cementing the program’s consistency. With a veteran core returning, many of whom have been starters since their sophomore year, Florala heads into 2026 with legitimate postseason expectations once again.

The Wildcats’ leadership and production are anchored by a strong senior class. LHP/OF Easton Walsh (Lurleen B. Wallace CC, 2026) returns as a centerpiece of the pitching staff and lineup, while UTL/RHP Jacob Lara (2026) provides versatility on both sides of the ball. 1B/RHP Ayden Brooks (2026) adds another experienced bat and arm, and C Dawson Reeves (2026) brings stability behind the plate. Together, this group has helped Florala win 45 games over the last two seasons and has competed in 16 playoff games, giving them significant postseason experience. Offensively, the Wildcats also return one of their top producers in SS/RHP Noah Bryan (2027), who led the team with a .483 batting average in 2025 and is projected as a key arm in the rotation. Additional depth comes from INF Gage Davis (2027) and OF Greyson West (2027), both of whom add continuity to a lineup that returns nearly all of its top hitters. On the mound, Florala projects to lean heavily on Walsh, Bryan, Lara, and Brooks, a staff built around experience and command.

Experience, pitching, and leadership define Florala’s identity heading into 2026. With a senior class that has started together since their sophomore season, the Wildcats are battle-tested and motivated for another deep run. As head coach Tyler Zessin stated, “If healthy, and the two spots we need to replace can be filled, I feel confident we can be a third-round team or further. We have had a great offseason, our seniors are leading the way, and we return all but one of our top seven hitters. Florala will once again have a team the community can be proud to watch in 2026.” With a proven core and championship pedigree, Florala enters the season positioned to remain a contender in Class 1A.

---

Find more information on the 2026 Florala High School program below:

+ Follow them on X or Facebook: @FloralaBaseball | Florala Wildcat Baseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2026 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

 

---

Related Content