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: Lauderdale County Tigers
Head Coach: Corey Looney
Classification & Area Number: Class 3A, Area 16
2025 Record (Finish): 20-15 (Sweet 16)

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• OF Jeremiah Hutchins (2026)
• RHP/SS Heston Parker (2027)
• C/OF Curtis Ritter (2027)
• LHP Cyler Parker (2027)
• UTL Sawyer Holden (2029)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• OF Lake Ingram (2029)
• INF Cayden Holden (2028)
• LHP/OF Easton Hammell (2028)

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OTHER UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

• 1B Joe Romine (2027)
• OF Jacob Jones (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Lauderdale County enters the 2026 season coming off a 20-15 campaign that ended in the Sweet 16, falling to Winfield. After sitting at 7–10 at Spring Break, the Tigers finished the season strong, a stretch that reflected the growth of a roster that leaned heavily on freshmen and sophomores throughout 2025. That late-season momentum now carries into 2026 as Lauderdale County returns a young but increasingly experienced group in Class 3A Area 16.

The Tigers bring back a core of contributors who logged significant varsity roles a season ago. OF Jeremiah Hutchins (2026) returns as a three-year starter and a middle-of-the-order bat, providing experience and consistency in the lineup. Up the middle, SS/RHP Heston Parker (2027) returns after solid defensive work at shortstop and delivering a shutout performance in Game 3 of the first round against Fyffe. Behind the plate and in the outfield, C/OF Curtis Ritter (2027) returns after being limited to DH duties last season due to injury and is expected to resume a larger defensive role in 2026. On the mound, LHP Cyler Parker (2027) returns after logging the third-most innings on the staff in 2025 and is expected to step into an expanded role this spring. The Tigers also return a key underclass contributor in UTL Sawyer Holden (2029), who appeared in 20 games as an eighth grader, primarily behind the plate, while also contributing on the mound with a 2.00 ERA and two wins. Additional depth comes from 1B Joe Romine (2027) and OF Jacob Jones (2027), while the underclass group includes OF Lake Ingram (2029), INF Cayden Holden (2028), and LHP/OF Easton Hammell (2028), all of whom add flexibility as roles continue to develop.

Pitching depth and competitiveness define Lauderdale County’s outlook entering 2026. With a roster that gained valuable experience a year ago and showed marked improvement down the stretch, the Tigers head into the season focused on continuing that upward trend. As head coach Corey Looney noted, “Young but experienced group that got a lot of experience in 2025 as freshmen and sophomores. High character group that is fun to be around and works hard.” With experience gained and momentum built, Lauderdale County enters 2026 aiming to build on last year’s strong finish and compete deep into the postseason in Class 3A.

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Find more information on the 2026 Lauderdale County High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @CountyBoysBaseb
+ 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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