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: New Brockton Gamecocks
Head Coach: Ben Thompson
Classification & Area Number: Class 4A Area 4
2025 Record (Finish): 15-12 (Eliminated in 1st Round)

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• RHP/OF Jacob Fisher (Bishop State CC, 2026)
• OF/RHP Gavin Hand (2026) 
• OF Bryant Crumpler (2026) 
• C/RHP Clark Moran (2026) 
• 1B/C Will Adkison (2027)
• RHP Griffin Wood (2027) 

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• RHP Micah Davis (2029)

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OTHER UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

• RHP/UTL Kylen Radcliffe (2027)
• 3B/RHP Colt Mercer (2027)
• LHP Colton Starling (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

New Brockton enters the 2025 season looking to take a significant step forward after a 15–12 campaign that saw a young roster gain valuable varsity experience before falling to a seasoned Satsuma team in the first round. Despite their youth, the Gamecocks broke multiple school records—most notably 183 team stolen bases and 46 steals by 1st Team All-State selection Hayden Pope—and return a substantial portion of their offensive and pitching production with 634 plate appearances and 154.2 innings coming back. With maturity, strengthened depth, and a bolstered schedule featuring Dothan, Enterprise, and Rehobeth, head coach Ben Thompson has a roster positioned to make meaningful strides in Class 4A.

The lineup is built around a strong 2026 core that includes RHP/OF Jacob Fisher (Bishop State CC, 2026), who logged 64 innings with 80 strikeouts last year and returns as the staff ace while also contributing as an athletic outfielder. OF/RHP Gavin Hand (2026), one of the top catalysts in the order, posted a .430 average with 21 stolen bases and will once again anchor center field. Fellow senior OF Bryant Crumpler (2026) gives New Brockton another high-end on-base threat after finishing with a .483 OBP, .951 OPS, and 20 steals. Behind the plate, C Clark Moran (2026) provides stability with a 2.02 pop time and rare athleticism for a catcher, going a perfect 14-for-14 in stolen base attempts. 1B/C Will Adkison (2027) returns with power potential at 1B/C after hitting .340 with a home run, while RHP Griffin Wood (2027), who logged 54.2 innings as a sophomore, provides another key two-way presence. On the mound, the Gamecocks bring back their entire pitching staff, which stands as one of the most important strengths of the 2025 roster. Fisher and Wood headline the rotation, with Hand, RHP/UTL Kylen Radcliffe (2027), 3B/RHP Colt Mercer (2027), and LHP Colton Starling (2027) providing depth and matchup flexibility. The addition of RHP Micah Davis (2029), who went 6–0 with 52 strikeouts in 23 JV innings, gives New Brockton an exciting young arm who should bolster the staff and contribute meaningful innings as the season progresses. Defensively, New Brockton returns six position starters and several multi-positional contributors capable of moving around the diamond as needed. Their team speed—one of the defining characteristics of last year’s group—should continue to be a major weapon, both in the outfield and on the basepaths. With several players capable of swiping 15+ bags and multiple high on-base profiles returning, the Gamecocks once again project to pressure defenses and manufacture offense consistently.

With a deeper, more experienced roster, all key arms returning, and an upgraded schedule designed to harden the group for postseason play, New Brockton expects to compete at a higher level in 2025. As Coach Thompson notes, “We are returning 6 starters in the lineup and we return the entire pitching staff... We will play a tougher schedule than previous seasons with Dothan, Enterprise and Rehobeth on the schedule, in addition to quality smaller schools.” With their combination of speed, pitching depth, and returning production, the Gamecocks appear primed to push beyond the first round and reestablish themselves as a dangerous postseason team in Class 4A.

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Find more information on the 2026 New Brockton program below:

+ Follow them on X or Facebook: @GamecocksNB | NBHS 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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