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: Hubbertville Lions
Head Coach: Adam Brand
Classification & Area Number: Class 1A, Area 10
2025 Record (Finish): 17-9 (Sweet 16)

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• SS/RHP Cole Brand (2027)
• RHP/SS Blaize Wakefield (2027)
• C/OF Kane Rushing (2027)
• OF/RHP Landon Dodd (2027)
• RHP/OF Cruz Kizzire (2028)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• UTL Carter Brand (2028)
• UTL Sam Tidwell (2028)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Hubbertville heads into the 2026 season coming off a historic 2025 campaign that saw the Lions finish 17-9, claim the first area championship in program history, earn their first playoff series win, and set a new school record for wins in a season. Although the year ended in the Sweet 16 with a loss to Lynn, the foundation built during that run positions Hubbertville as a team looking to build momentum and take another step forward in Class 1A, Area 10.

The core of this group returns with experience on both sides of the ball, led by SS/RHP Cole Brand (2027), who was one of the most productive hitters in the state last spring. Brand hit an eye-opening .513, piling up six doubles, two triples, a home run, and 28 RBI, while also contributing on the mound. He’s joined by fellow junior RHP/SS Blaize Wakefield (2027), who drove in 10 runs a year ago and gives the Lions another reliable two-way presence. Behind the plate and in the outfield, C/OF Kane Rushing (2027) returns after starting throughout last season, while OF/RHP Landon Dodd (2027) and RHP/OF Cruz Kizzire (2028) add athleticism, arm strength, and depth to both the lineup and pitching staff. The Lions will also look to continue developing underclass contributors like UTL Carter Brand (2028) and UTL Sam Tidwell (2028) as they expand their roles.

Looking toward 2026, Hubbertville’s identity once again centers on pitching and defense, with a rare level of continuity returning. The Lions bring back eight starters from last year’s team, with only one of them being a senior, and return their top four starting pitchers from the 2025 season. As head coach Adam Brand noted, “We have eight returning players who started for us last season with only one of those being a senior. We have our top four starting pitchers returning from last season (three juniors and one sophomore). We look to build off our experience to make a deep playoff run this season.” With experience, continuity, and a proven postseason résumé, Hubbertville enters 2026 aiming to turn last year’s breakthrough into sustained success deep into the playoffs.

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Find more information on the 2026 Hubbertville program below:

+ Follow them on Facebook: Hubbertville 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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