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: Pike Road Patriots
Head Coach: Caleb Brooks
Classification & Area Number: Class 6A, Area 3
2025 Record (Finish): 13-19 (1st Round)

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• LHP Hunter Matthes (2027)
• SS Herbert Reyes (2026)
• OF/RHP Quinton Robinson (2027)
• C Diego Pacheco (2028)
• UTL/RHP Gunner Gibbs (2028)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• INF Bryson Suchocki (2028)

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OTHER UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

• LHP Brandt Springer (2026)
• 1B/3B Blake Moses (Faulkner, 2026)
• OF Micah Andrews (2026)
• OF/1B Jake McDavid (2027)
• RHP/1B Fuller Dean (2027)
• RHP Julius Williams (2027)
• RHP Michael Hodge (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Pike Road enters the 2026 season with renewed continuity after a 2025 campaign marked by roster turnover and a late coaching transition. With only five seniors graduating last spring and a full summer and fall together under head coach Caleb Brooks, the Patriots return a significant amount of production and experience. That continuity, paired with a deep pitching staff, positions Pike Road to be more consistent and competitive in Class 6A Area 3 this season.

The Patriots are anchored by a strong group of returning arms. LHP Hunter Matthes (2027) returns as a frontline left-handed presence after striking out 50 batters in 36 innings with a 2.67 ERA, including dominant outings against Auburn High and Gulf Shores in the playoffs. Additional pitching depth comes from OF/RHP Quinton Robinson (2027), who logged 14 innings with a 2.00 ERA, and UTL/RHP Gunner Gibbs (2028), who struck out 23 batters in 21.2 innings as a freshman. Upperclass arms LHP Brandt Springer (2026), RHP Julius Williams (2027), RHP Michael Hodge (2027), and RHP/1B Fuller Dean (2027) further strengthen a staff built on depth and versatility. Offensively, Pike Road returns several productive bats who surged late in the 2025 season. SS Herbert Reyes (2026) brings leadership and athleticism after batting .341 with a .931 OPS over the final 15 games. OF/RHP Quinton Robinson (2027) hit .346 with a .469 OBP and .911 OPS down the stretch, while C Diego Pacheco (2028) established himself as a key piece behind the plate, posting a .465 OBP as a freshman and hitting .316 over the final 15 games. UTL/RHP Gunner Gibbs (2028) tied for the team lead in extra-base hits and hit .333 with a .442 OBP late in the season, adding impact on both sides of the ball. Additional positional depth includes 1B/3B Blake Moses (Faulkner, 2026), OF Micah Andrews (2026), OF/1B Jake McDavid (2027), and INF Bryson Suchocki (2028), all of whom provide lineup flexibility as roles continue to solidify.

Returning experience and pitching depth define Pike Road’s outlook entering 2026. With a more established identity and continuity throughout the roster, the Patriots expect improved consistency across the board. As head coach Caleb Brooks noted, “We return a lot of production from the 2025 season after only graduating five seniors. We’ve now been together all summer and fall and feel there is a lot more continuity with our team and program as we enter the 2026 season.” With that foundation in place, Pike Road enters the spring focused on translating returning talent into results in Class 6A.

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Find more information on the 2026 Pike Road High School program below:

+ Follow them on X or Facebook: @PikeRoadDC | Pike Road Diamond Club
+ 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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