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2025 Deshler Tigers Team Preview

February 7, 2025
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

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: Deshler Tigers
Head Coach: Justin Cantrell
Classification: AHSAA Class 4A
Area Number: Class 4A, Area 14
2024 Record (Finish): 28-9 (Eliminated in Elite Eight)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 9
Team Strengths: Returning Lineup, Pitching, Experience

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Deshler Tigers enter the 2025 season with momentum after a successful 2024 campaign that saw them surpass 25 wins and reach the Class 4A quarterfinals. While they were fairly young last season, the Tigers return an exciting team that looks poised for another strong season in 2025.

Dominating their area competition to claim a championship, the Tigers powered through the early rounds of the playoffs, securing low-scoring victories over Priceville and Ashville in the first round and Sweet 16. However, their postseason run came to an end in the Elite 8 against Corner, the eventual Class 4A State Champions, finishing the season with a strong 28-9 record. Despite the early exit, the Tigers had plenty to celebrate from a successful 2024 campaign and enter 2025 eager to build on that momentum. With seven returning positional starters and nine pitchers, Deshler looks primed for another standout season. Leading the way are senior standouts C/RHP Jacob Alexander (Northwest-Shoals CC, 2025) and OF/LHP Kaiden Fisher (2025), both expected to play key roles this spring. Alexander batted .360 with two home runs and 28 RBIs while also posting a 1.93 ERA on the mound. The junior class is loaded with impact players, including RHP/SS Garrett Reid (2026), RHP/OF Price Thornton (2026), and NIF/RHP Camden Fuller (2026), all of whom were major contributors as sophomores. Reid and Thornton formed a dominant duo on the mound, combining for 130 innings pitched and 202 strikeouts, with Reid also excelling at the plate, hitting .429 with 30 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. Thornton added 22 RBIs, while Fuller contributed a .321 average with 17 RBIs, 37 runs scored, and 25 stolen bases. Juniors OF/LHP Brady McKinney (2026) and INF Nash Adams (2026) are also expected to be key contributors after batting over .275 last season. Among the underclassmen, 1B/RHP Jay Murner (2027) showed promise as a freshman with a .276 batting average and looks poised for an even bigger sophomore season. Other young players to watch include INF Carter Boyett (2027), OF Tripp Clark (2027), UTL Austin King (2027), OF/LHP Warner Johnson (2027), INF/RHP Brycen Williams (2027), and C/OF George Youngblood (2027), all of whom will be competing for playing time early in the season.

With a talented roster that blends experience and emerging talent, the Tigers are set to continue their upward trajectory in 2025. The combination of strong senior leadership and impactful underclassmen provides a solid foundation for another successful season. They'll compete in Class 4A, Area 14 against Brooks, Central-Florence, Hatton, and Wilson for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. With high expectations and a deep roster, Deshler has the potential to make a strong run in the playoffs and compete for a Class 4A title in 2025.

Find more information on the 2025 Deshler High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @DeshlerBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2025 HS Team Previews

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