2026 Tuscaloosa County Wildcats Team Preview
February 18, 2026
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: Tuscaloosa County Wildcats
Head Coach: Nick Richardson
Classification & Area Number: Class 7A, Area 5
2025 Record (Finish): 34-13 (State Champions)
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- LHP Tate Pettus (Meridian CC, 2026)
- RHP/INF Brooks Mellown (Shelton State CC, 2026)
- RHP/OF Jashaun Moten (Lurleen B. Wallace CC, 2026)
- SS/RHP Ford Traweek (Shelton State CC, 2026)
- OF Brayden Skinner (2026)
- C Peyton Stewart (2026)
- INF/RHP Colson Mellown (2027)
- RHP/INF Gibbs White (2027)
- LHP/OF Dillon Dubose (2027)
- INF Ryan Nichols (East Central CC, 2027)
- OF/RHP Bryson Boyington (2027)
LHP Tate Pettus (2/20/25)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- OF/LHP Sam Ridley (2029)
- INF Grant Hudson (2028)
- INF Justin Lewis (2028)
- UTL Conner Trimm (2028)
- 1B/RHP Caleb Green (2028)
- C/INF Fisher Evans (2028)
OF/LHP Sam Ridley (1/17/26)
TEAM OUTLOOK
Tuscaloosa County enters the 2026 season with momentum after a historic 34-13 campaign that ended with the program’s first state championship. The Wildcats proved all spring that they could handle the pressure of a deep postseason run, and they return a roster built to contend again in Class 7A, Area 5. With championship experience throughout the dugout and a pitching staff that logged heavy, meaningful innings a year ago, the Wildcats look built for another big season as one of the potential main contenders in Class 7A.
The backbone of this group is a deep and proven pitching staff led by LHP Tate Pettus (Meridian CC, 2026), RHP/INF Brooks Mellown (Shelton State CC, 2026), LHP/OF Dillon Dubose (2027), RHP/INF Gibbs White (2027), and RHP/OF Jashaun Moten (Lurleen B. Wallace CC, 2026), with SS/RHP Ford Traweek (Shelton State CC, 2026) adding another reliable, experienced arm as a two-way contributor. That group of top returning arms gives Tuscaloosa County multiple looks and plenty of flexibility on the mound. Offensively and defensively, the Wildcats bring back a veteran core that includes OF Brayden Skinner (2026), C Peyton Stewart (2026), INF/RHP Colson Mellown (2027), INF Ryan Nichols (East Central CC, 2027), and OF/RHP Bryson Boyington (2027), a group that helped drive last year’s title run. The next wave is already pushing for roles as well, with OF/LHP Sam Ridley (2029), INF Grant Hudson (2028), INF Justin Lewis (2028), UTL Conner Trimm (2028), 1B/RHP Caleb Green (2028), and C/INF Fisher Evans (2028) adding depth and upside across the roster.
Looking ahead, Tuscaloosa County’s identity in 2026 will again be built on pitching depth, experience, and the confidence that comes from winning at the highest level. The challenge now is maintaining that edge through a demanding 7A schedule and continuing to play with the consistency that defined last season’s championship run. With so much returning production and a deep staff on the mound, the Wildcats are positioned to stay in the title conversation and push to defend their crown.
Find more information on the 2026 Tuscaloosa County program below:
+ Follow them on X: @TuscaloosaCoun1
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2026 HS Team Previews
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