aThe 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: Charles Henderson Trojans
Head Coach: Chase Smartt
Classification: AHSAA Class 5A
Area Number: Class 5A, Area 3
2024 Record (Finish): 13-17 (No Postseason)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 2
Team Strengths: Chemistry, Defense, Hitting

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• INF/RHP Cole Pugh (2025)
• UTL/RHP Cooper Johnson (2026)
• 3B/RHP Chase Vaznaian (2026)
• OF/LHP Clay Johnson (2026)
• 1B/RHP Wes Templin (2026)
• 1B/RHP Trenton Bryan (2026)
• C/RHP Kellen Stewart (2027)
• SS/RHP Owen Pugh (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Competing in a quality area last year with multiple talented teams, the Charles Henderson Trojans unfortunately missed out on the playoffs in 2024 but enter the new season optimistic they can make some noise in Class 5A in their new area this spring. With nearly all of their offensive returners coming back for 2025, the Trojans looked poised to build off of their 2024 campaign. 

The Trojans narrowly missed out on the Class 5A playoffs in 2024, finishing behind Headland and Rehobeth in their final area standings. Headland was one of the more talented teams in Class 5A last season, while Rehobeth is another quality program in the Wiregrass area who moves up to Class 6A this spring. Moving into a new area this season, albeit with just three teams, it's still going to be a strong task to reach the playoffs competing against Andalusia and Greenville, but the coaching staff and team feels optimistic about their chances going into the season. With eight positional starters coming back in 2024, their offensive appears to be one of their main team strengths. INF/RHP Cole Pugh (2025) is one of the few senior returners who looks ready to have a strong final year of his high school career in 2025. He should one of their team leaders and one of their primary offensive contributors. The Trojans appear to have a strong junior class in their program, with players like UTL/RHP Cooper Johnson (2026), 3B/RHP Chase Vaznaian (2026), OF/LHP Clay Johnson (2026), 1B/RHP Wes Templin (2026), and 1B/RHP Trenton Bryan (2026) all being notable returning players on the offensive side of the ball. Looking to have breakout campaigns after gaining more experience during the sophomore season, these players will play crucial roles in important spots for the Trojans this spring. In addition to these upperclassmen, C/RHP Kellen Stewart (2027) and SS/RHP Owen Pugh (2027) are two of the Trojans' top underclassmen within their program and should play significant roles on the offensive side of the ball this season.

After missing out on the playoffs in 2024, the Trojans look primed to be right in the mix of playoff contention once the end of the season rolls around in April & May. They'll compete in Class 5A, Area 3 against Andalusia and Greenville for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Look for Charles Henderson to take a strong step forward while featuring a quality offensive attack in 2025.

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Find more information on the 2025 Charles Henderson High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @TrojansCHHS
+ 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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