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2025 Etowah Blue Devils Team Preview

February 12, 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: Etowah Blue Devils
Head Coach: Blake Bone
Classification: AHSAA Class 4A
Area Number: Class 4A, Area 11
2024 Record (Finish): 23-14 (Eliminated in Sweet Sixteen)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 7
Team Strengths: Pitching & Offensive Depth

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2025

Class of 2026

  • RHP Brock Billingsley (2026) 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

Etowah enters the 2025 season with a deep and experienced roster, returning eight positional starters and seven pitchers from a squad that reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2024. With a strong pitching staff and an athletic lineup, the Blue Devils have the pieces to make a deeper postseason run this year.

RHP/INF Damon Devine (2025) battled injuries last season but still posted a 2.30 ERA and hit .349 with 20 stolen bases—now fully healthy, his fastball sits in the mid-to-upper-80s range, making him a key two-way player. OF Cash Hayes (2025) is an All-State performer who hit .421 with 10 doubles and 23 stolen bases in 2024, providing elite speed and offensive production. On the mound, RHP/INF Jameson Scissum (Jacksonville State, 2025) brings frontline ace potential with a 6-2 record, 1.90 ERA, and a fastball sitting in the upper-80s, while also contributing offensively with a .330 average, 3 home runs, and 15 stolen bases. LHP Tray Gaddis (2025) led the team in innings last season with a 5-2 record, 2.30 ERA, and 45 strikeouts and will be ready to go after an offseason injury. OF Conner Dingler (2025) was one of the team’s best run producers last season, leading Etowah in RBIs while hitting .315 with just three strikeouts in 100 at-bats. INF/RHP Baylor Morrison (2027) brings advanced skills and speed (.300 AVG, 19 SBs) while emerging as a key arm with a mid-to-upper 80s fastball. RHP/INF Bennett Reeves (2025) returns after starting six games on the mound and hitting .290 with 18 RBIs. RHP Brock Billingsley (2026) is a 6’3, 205-pound arm who made varsity appearances in 2024 and has made significant offseason improvements, adding depth to the staff. The Blue Devils have a promising crop of young talent, led by C Jaxon Morgan (2027), who caught every game as a freshman, hit .270 and does a great job handling the pitching staff. RHP Landon Ward (2027), a 6’1 right-hander, logged 13 varsity innings with 14 strikeouts and a 2.90 ERA, showing impressive command and velocity in the low-to-mid 80s. On offense, 1B Avery Haynes (2027) worked his way into the lineup late last season and is expected to hit in the middle of the order. INF Ethan Mendoza (2027) is a switch-hitter with power from both sides, hitting .270 with three doubles as a freshman. OF Dylan Rakestraw (2027) is a potential five-tool player, and INF/RHP Jackson Ledbetter (2028), a left-handed hitting middle infielder, has a strong work ethic and could see time as a freshman.

With a deep and talented roster, strong pitching staff, and a mix of veteran leadership and young talent, Etowah is poised for a big season. They'll compete in Class 4A, Area 11 against Ashville, Hokes Bluff, Oneonta, and Westbrook Christian for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. If the Blue Devils can stay healthy and maximize their offensive depth, they have the tools to make a serious run at the Class 4A state championship in 2025.

Find more information on the 2025 Etowah program below:

+ Follow them on X: @EtowahBaseball2
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2025 HS Team Previews

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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