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2025 New Hope Indians Team Preview

February 8, 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: New Hope Indians
Head Coach: Andrew Dennis
Classification: AHSAA Class 4A
Area Number: Class 4A, Area 16
2024 Record (Finish): 12-12 (No Postseason)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Team Strengths: Pitching, Defense, Athleticism

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2025

  • OF/C Vann Mefford (2025)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

The New Hope Indians enter the 2025 season aiming for a return to the Class 4A playoffs after being one of the more talented teams to not make it in 2024. Bringing back some high-level returners who played an integral role in last season's success, the Indians look primed for a strong season in 2025.

Competing in one of Class 4A’s toughest areas in 2024, the Indians narrowly missed out on the runner-up spot behind Westminster Christian and Madison County, bringing their season to an early close. However, there is renewed optimism heading into 2025, as the Indians have a strong chance to break through in their area, provided they play their best baseball down the stretch. With five positional starters and five pitchers returning, the team is set to lean on its pitching and defense as key strengths this season. Leading the way is RHP/OF Layton Pohl (2026), the No. 11-ranked prospect in Alabama’s 2026 class, who is primed for a breakout junior season. Armed with a fastball that reaches the low 90s, Pohl logged 19.1 innings last spring, posting a 3.98 ERA with 21 strikeouts. After making significant strides over the past year, he’s expected to take on a larger workload in 2025. Offensively, he was a key contributor last season, hitting .359 with 2 home runs, 13 RBIs, 23 runs, 15 walks, and 7 stolen bases. RHP/UTL Dawson Cambron (2025) and SS Grant Maples (2025) will provide veteran leadership and be major contributors at the plate. Cambron hit .354 last season while also throwing 16.1 innings on the mound, while Maples batted .297 and played solid defense at shortstop. Another key senior, RHP/C Andrew Dudley (2025), will be a leader on the pitching staff after recording 22.2 innings with 24 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA in 2024. OF/C Vann Mefford (2025) is expected to step into a starting role, whether in the outfield or behind the plate, and will bring valuable senior leadership. Among the underclassmen, RHP/INF Lucas Terry (2027), RHP/1B Hudson Layne (2028), and RHP/UTL Brody Gowan (2029) all have strong chances to secure starting roles in the infield. Terry, who started at third base last year, will take on a bigger role on the mound, while Layne and Gowan, both of whom saw playing time in 2024, could make an impact in the middle of the order.

With a strong mix of returning upperclassmen and promising underclassmen, the New Hope Indians are poised for a competitive 2025 season. They'll compete in Class 4A, Area 16 against D.A.R., Madison County, North Jackson, and Plainview at the end of the regular season. Expect the Indians to be right in the mix of playoff contention in Class 4A at the end of the season in 2025.

Find more information on the 2025 New Hope High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @NewHopeHSBaseb1
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2025 HS Team Previews

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+ Prep Baseball Alabama on X
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Facebook

 

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