The 2025 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: Ardmore Tigers
Head Coach: Andrew Smith
Classification: AHSAA Class 5A
Area Number: Class 5A, Area 16
2024 Record (Finish): 18-16 (Eliminated in 1st Round)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Chemisty, Athleticism, Good Core group

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• OF/RHP Keaton Johns (2025)
• SS Noah Stafford (2026).
• C/3B Dawson Pearson (2025)
• OF/RHP Skyler Jean (2025)
• 3B/RHP Cole Clinard (2025)
• 1B/RHP Layne Williams (2025)
• UTL/RHP Tre Rolin (2025)
• LHP/OF Tavien Cannon (2025)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Ardmore Tigers have established themselves as a steady playoff contender in Class 5A and aim to maintain that success in the 2025 season. With key returning starters and a solid group of seniors, the Tigers hope to build on their 18-win campaign in 2024 and make a deeper postseason run.

Finishing as the area runner-up last season, the Tigers secured their playoff spot in dramatic fashion, winning a decisive Game 3 against East Limestone in their first area series. Both teams ended the regular season with a 3-3 area record, but Ardmore advanced thanks to the tiebreaker victory. However, their postseason run was short-lived, as they fell in two games to a talented Springville team that later reached the Final Four. With an experienced roster and key upperclassmen returning, the Tigers are determined to make a deeper playoff push in 2025. Leading the way is OF/RHP Keaton Johns (2025), a dynamic player who earned Class 5A Second Team All-State honors last season. Johns posted a .376 batting average with 38 hits, 31 runs, and a perfect 24-for-24 in stolen bases. He was also a key arm on the mound, logging 41.2 innings with a 1.85 ERA. SS Noah Stafford (2026), a multi-year starter, brings a well-rounded skill set and a strong presence at the plate, having hit .398 with 41 hits, 22 RBIs, 30 runs, 21 walks, and 18 stolen bases as a sophomore. He’s expected to be a major contributor once again this season. The Tigers also return several senior leaders who should play key roles. C/3B Dawson Pearson (2025) and OF/RHP Skyler Jean (2025) both hit over .290 last season, while 3B/RHP Cole Clinard (2025) emerged as a reliable designated hitter down the stretch, delivering clutch at-bats late in the year. UTL/RHP Tre Rolin (2025) is set to provide an immediate impact after missing the second half of 2024 due to injury. On the mound, 1B/RHP Layne Williams (2025) and LHP/OF Tavien Cannon (2025) are expected to take on larger roles this spring. Williams, who primarily pitched in relief last season, logged 30.1 innings, while Cannon tossed 24 innings before an injury sidelined him after the first area series. Both will be key pieces in Ardmore’s pitching staff as they aim for another playoff run.

With a strong core of experienced returners and a talented group of seniors leading the way, the Tigers have the pieces in place to take another step forward in 2025. They'll compete in Class 5A, Area 16 against East Limestone, Madison Academy, and Scottsboro for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. With key contributors on both sides of the ball and an improved pitching staff, the Tigers should be a competitive team in Class 5A.

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Find more information on the 2025 Ardmore program below:

+ Follow them on X: @AHSBaseballAL
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2025 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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