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2025 Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa Patriots Team Preview

February 11, 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: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa Patriots
Head Coach: Mark Garner
Classification: AHSAA Class 7A
Area Number: Class 7A, Area 5
2024 Record (Finish): 32-13 (Class 6A State Champion)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Team Chemistry, Pitching Staff

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2025

Class of 2026

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

Coming off a 2024 Class 6A State Championship, the Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa Patriots make the move up to Class 7A with a strong core of returning players and an experienced pitching staff. While the team lost some key contributors from last year's title-winning squad, the Patriots will rely on their team chemistry and deep pitching rotation to remain a contender in Alabama’s largest classification.

The Patriots return four position players and four pitchers from last year’s championship team. 3B Noah Latham (2025) is a key offensive leader after hitting .328 with 26 RBIs and 17 runs last season. SS Gunnar Hobson (2025) provides additional offensive production, hitting .276 with 21 RBIs, 29 runs, and 10 stolen bases while playing a key role defensively. OF Rhett Turnipseed (2025) adds speed and athleticism to the lineup after swiping nine bases and scoring 20 runs in 2024. On the mound, RHP Spencer Davis (2025) leads the staff after posting a strong 2.05 ERA in 58 innings with 59 strikeouts to just 19 walks. LHP/1B Wyatt Garner (2026) showed promise as a sophomore with a 1.91 ERA in 11 innings and will look to take on a bigger role this season. RHP Mason Booth (2026) and RHP/3B Brooks Fowlkes (2026) add depth to the rotation and will be counted on for key innings. The Patriots have a solid group of upperclassmen who will play key roles this season. INF Owen Dreyfus (2025) returns after hitting .289 with a .417 OBP, while C Duncan Walker (2025) provides leadership behind the plate after posting a .556 OBP in limited at-bats. SS Peyton Rackard (2027) is a young talent to watch as he develops at the varsity level. His ability to contribute both defensively and offensively could make a significant impact on the team’s depth this season.

With a championship pedigree, strong team chemistry, and an experienced pitching staff, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa has the tools to compete at the Class 7A level. They'll compete in Class 7A, Area 5 against Prattville, Thompson, and Tuscaloosa County for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. The transition to a higher classification will present new challenges, but if the Patriots can continue their winning culture and get production from their returning players and underclassmen, they could make another deep postseason run in 2025.

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

+ Follow them on X: @Baseball_Pats
+ 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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