As Opening Day approaches and the Alabama high school baseball season moves into focus, attention naturally shifts toward how each classification is shaping up entering the spring. Across the state, programs are preparing to turn the page from the offseason to the grind of a new year, with returning experience, roster turnover, and postseason expectations all factoring into the early landscape.

Each classification presents its own identity and challenges, from deep fields loaded with proven contenders to wide-open races featuring emerging programs ready to take the next step. Some teams enter the season with championship expectations firmly in place, while others carry momentum from strong finishes a year ago or look to capitalize on growth made over the winter.

In this class-by-class breakdown, we take a closer look at the landscape within the classification, highlighting the top teams, impact talent, and notworthy storylines to follow heading into first pitch. This breakdown examines the classification from top to bottom, evaluating the teams in position to contend, the depth behind them, and how the race could unfold as the season gets underway.

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2025 Recap

• State Champion: American Christian (35-14)
• State Runner-Up: St. Paul's Episcopal (28-12-1)
• Final Four: Elberta (27-10), Madison Academy (35-9)

𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝟓𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 🏆

American Christian explodes offensively scoring 7 runs in the last two innings to win Game 3 by score of 7-5 over St. Paul’s Episcopal to claim the Class 5A Blue Map.… pic.twitter.com/YLkWuaWWAG

— Prep Baseball Alabama (@PrepBaseballAL) May 16, 2025

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Class 5A Preseason Top 10 Poll

Rank	Team	2025 Record	2025 Finish
1	American Christian	35-14	State Champions
2	St. Paul's Episcopal	28-12-1	State Runner-Up
3	Northside	23-10-1	1st Round
4	Faith Academy	22-7	Sweet 16
5	Demopolis	22-11	Sweet 16
6	Briarwood Christian	20-16	Sweet 16
7	Russellville	25-12	Sweet 16
8	UMS-Wright Prep	19-14	Sweet 16
9	Madison Academy	35-9	Final 4
10	Springville	29-7	Elite 8

Others on the Bubble

Elberta
Elberta opens the season just outside the Top 10 after a standout 2025 campaign that saw the Warriors knock off several top Class 5A programs and reach the Final Four, falling in a tightly contested Game 3 to St. Paul’s Episcopal. While they did graduate a large senior class that played key roles in that postseason run, the Warriors still bring back a handful of important contributors and will lean on a mix of returners and newcomers to sustain that momentum. Brice Brooks (Bishop State CC), Carson Watts, and Aiden Jones return with valuable varsity experience in the lineup, providing a foundation on the offensive side. On the mound, Elberta will look for new arms to step into expanded roles after losing much of last year’s rotation. In a deep and competitive field, the Warriors have the pieces to remain relevant and work their way back into the conversation as the 2026 season unfolds.

Elmore County
Elmore County enters the 2026 season coming off a strong 2025 campaign that saw the Panthers finish 26-11, capture the Area 6 championship, and reach the Sweet 16. The group showed impressive balance a year ago, combining 21 home runs as a team with a 2.85 staff ERA, and that formula once again sets the tone this spring. With a veteran core returning and plenty of varsity experience throughout the lineup, the Panthers look positioned to remain a factor in Class 5A. Key returners include Gage Davis, Shelton Darnell, Evan Spence, Hunter Denham, Thomas Payton, and Joseph Roberts, giving Elmore County both continuity and production heading into the season.

Headland
Headland adds to the depth of Class 5A as a program with the potential to take a noticeable step forward in 2026, returning a large portion of its offensive production from a year ago. The Rams dropped their first-round playoff series to UMS-Wright Prep last spring, but leaned heavily on underclassmen in key roles, particularly in the lineup, and that experience should pay dividends this season. Nicholas Boatwright and Evan Money return after hitting in the heart of the order, while Ryan Roland is back to handle duties behind the plate and provide another middle-of-the-order presence. Wyatt Shelley (Auburn) projects as one of the top run producers in the classification, and Colton Davis returns after taking on a significant two-way role as a freshman, both in the rotation and in the lineup. If the Rams continue to develop dependable arms on the mound, their ceiling only rises as they look to turn offensive depth into a breakthrough season.

Marbury
Marbury enters 2026 after graduating a large senior class that included several next-level signees who powered the Bulldogs through a strong run of seasons over the past few years. This spring, the focus shifts to a mix of newcomers and returning pieces who will see their roles expand. Among those returners, Alexander Hamby and Easton Wright, now juniors, played key offensive roles as sophomores and gained valuable experience in playoff and high-level varsity environments. That foundation gives Marbury a starting point as it looks to reshape the roster and remain competitive in Class 5A.

Moody
Moody enters the 2026 season as a potential under-the-radar team in a deep Class 5A field, returning significant experience from a group that showed steady growth a year ago. While the Blue Devils finished 15-19 and dropped their first-round series to Leeds, they closed the season with momentum, winning key games to reach the postseason and bringing back much of that roster. This group should be led by an experienced senior class, highlighted by five college signees, while still incorporating a few underclassmen into important roles. Notable returners include Bryant Hardin (Shelton State CC), JB Leatherwood (Gadsden State CC), Jayden Hicks (Lawson State CC), Will Dutton (Lawson State CC), and JP Sands (Jackson State CC), giving Moody a strong foundation on both sides of the ball. With that level of continuity and experience, the Blue Devils are a team worth tracking as the season unfolds.

Scottsboro
Scottsboro enters the 2026 season carrying momentum from a quarterfinal run in Class 5A and looks ready to turn that experience into another step forward this spring. The Wildcats bring back a solid core of contributors, led by Jackson Nichols (Calhoun CC), Hunter Hancock, Conner Vaden, and Cohen Thompson, giving the roster continuity across the field. That returning experience, paired with the confidence gained from last year’s postseason run, puts Scottsboro in position to remain a factor in the North and push deeper into the bracket as the season unfolds.

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Team Superlatives

🏆 Most Complete Team: American Christian
American Christian opens the 2026 season with the target on its back as the defending Class 5A state champions, but the Patriots have the roster makeup to handle that pressure. A large portion of last year’s 34-14 title team returns, including a group that was thrust into key roles as freshmen and now comes back as a more seasoned and battle-tested sophomore class. The roster once again features multiple two-way contributors and college-level prospects capable of impacting games in a variety of ways. Veteran leaders such as Clayton Rice (Chipola CC), Jaylen Crocker (Montevallo), and Britton Taft (Meridian CC) provide experience and stability, while the upside is boosted by an impressive underclass core that includes Hunter Elmore, Drew Jackson III, Caleb McAusland, and BJ Garth, all ranked inside the top 35 of their class. With depth, versatility, and proven production on both sides of the ball under head coach Del Howell, American Christian enters 2026 built to handle another demanding schedule and remain one of the standard-bearers in Class 5A.

🔥 Best Pitching Staff: Demopolis
Demopolis enters the 2026 season built around a deep, senior-led pitching staff that should once again serve as the foundation of its postseason aspirations after a 22-11 campaign and a Sweet 16 run a year ago. The rotation is anchored by Colton Colgrove (West Alabama), Jack Pritchett (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC), and Josiah Colgrove (Central Alabama CC), giving the Tigers three proven arms capable of controlling games throughout the week. That group is complemented by key two-way contributors in Jake Powell, Bryce McElroy (Gadsden State CC), and Braxton Vice (Huntingdon), all of whom add valuable innings while also impacting the lineup. The volume of experienced options on the mound gives Demopolis flexibility in both area play and postseason series. With pitching depth and veteran leadership at the core, the Tigers’ staff projects as a major reason they can make another deep run in Class 5A.

💣 Offense to Watch: Northside
Northside enters 2026 with one of the deepest and most experienced lineups in Class 5A after a breakout season a year ago and returns nearly all of its offensive production. The Rams showed last spring they can compete with anyone, pushing No. 1 Springville in a hard-fought three-game series in the opening round, and that experience now fuels higher expectations. The offense is built around a versatile group that includes Austin Kightlinger (Indiana), Judd Sanford, Bennett Green, Brock Green, Brody Abernathy, and Evan Taylor, giving Northside impact bats throughout the order. That blend of top-of-the-order presence and middle-of-the-lineup run production makes this a group that can apply pressure in a hurry. With so much returning firepower and momentum carrying over, the Rams’ lineup projects as a major driver in their push to stay in the Class 5A race this spring.

🚀 Highest Ceiling: Faith Academy
Faith Academy enters the 2026 season with one of the highest ceilings in Class 5A after proving a year ago it can navigate a tough area and reach the second round of the postseason. The Rams are loaded with college-level talent, particularly within the 2026 class, giving the roster a blend of impact pieces and depth that creates real upside if everything comes together. The group is highlighted by two-way standouts Riley Wilemon (Bishop State CC) and Brodie Wilson (Auburn), along with a strong supporting cast that includes Braydon Wright (Mississippi College), Carlos Ortiz, Christian Freeman (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC), Eli Quinley, and Grayson Finch (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC). That mix of athletic position players and power arms gives Faith Academy multiple ways to pressure opponents. If the pieces click consistently, the Rams have the talent to make a deep run and factor heavily into the Class 5A race, especially in the southern half of the state.

🧱 Highest Floor: Russellville
Russellville’s name has become synonymous with winning in Class 5A, and that sustained success continues to set one of the highest floors in the classification. The Golden Tigers have captured five state championships since 2015, most recently in 2022, and followed that up with another Sweet 16 appearance in 2025, including a Game 1 win over eventual champion American Christian before dropping a pair of tight games. Much of the core from that group returns, led by Brayden Entrekin, Caleb Hawkins, Tripp Cleveland, and Ty Engelthaler, giving the roster proven postseason experience. They also welcome back Brayden Hatton and Tristan Ray, who logged meaningful innings and at-bats last spring, while the pitching staff is anchored by returning arms in Entrekin, Engelthaler, Hatton, and Cleveland. With a track record of deep runs and a roster built on experience and pitching, Russellville once again enters the season as one of the safest bets to be in the mix deep into the postseason.

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Top Prospects in Class 5A (By Grad Year)

Below are some of the top-ranked prospects in this classification to know heading into the spring, broken out by graduating class.

Class of 2026

Rank	Player	Pos	School	Commitment
2	John Stowers	C	St. Paul's Episcopal	Auburn
10	Andrew Bennett	RHP	Mobile Christian	Penascola State CC
12	Clayton Rice	OF	American Christian	Chipola CC
15	Tate Johnston	SS	St. Paul's Episcopal	Auburn
26	Ty Waters	C	UMS-Wright Prep	Samford
39	Braydon Wright	SS	Faith Academy	Mississippi College
44	Jaylen Crocker	C/RHP	American Christian	Montevallo
47	Parker Daniels	C	Briarwood Christian	West Alabama
48	Bryant Hardin	RHP	Moody	Shelton State CC
55	Riley Wilemon	OF/RHP	Faith Academy	Bishop State CC

Class of 2027

Rank	Player	Pos	School	Commitment
4	Brodie Wilson	RHP/1B	Faith Academy	Auburn
13	Austin Kightlinger	OF	Northside	Indiana
15	Bryant Hopkins	RHP	Valley
18	Manning Amorde	OF	UMS-Wright Prep	South Alabama
27	Eli Quinley	C	Faith Academy
28	Parks Woodruff	OF	Lincoln	Air Force
29	Bennett Green	OF	Northside
66	Hayden Black	RHP/SS	St. Clair County
76	Charlie Hare	OF	Springville
78	Mason Arceneaux	LHP/OF	Mobile Christian

Class of 2028

Rank	Player	Pos	School	Commitment
2	Hunter Elmore	1B	American Christian
7	Drew Jackson III	LHP/OF	American Christian
11	Brayden Entrekin	OF/LHP	Russellville
12	Ivan Hand	RHP/3B	Briarwood Christian
13	Weston Todd	RHP	Madison Academy
15	Brock Green	OF/LHP	Northside
18	Hunter Dailey	RHP	Shelby County
19	Evan Money	OF	Headland
22	Jamison Barnes	C	Briarwood Christian
24	Nicholas Boatwright II	SS/RHP	Headland

Class of 2029

Rank	Player	Pos	School	Commitment
10	Max Boulo	SS	St. Paul's Episcopal
20	Tristan Simonson	1B	Faith Academy
31	Tommy Medina, Jr.	C/RHP	Faith Academy
32	Evan Hawarah	SS	St. Paul's Episcopal
36	Mac Thompson	C	Boaz

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Staff Predictions 🔮

With the season still ahead and before seeing any of these teams take the field, these predictions are made purely in the spirit of preseason discussion and debate. They are not rankings or projections of the entire field, but simply a fun exercise to spotlight a few storylines and possibilities entering the spring. As always in high school baseball, the games themselves will ultimately decide everything.

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