Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2025 North Sand Mountain Bison Team Preview

February 6, 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: North Sand Mountain Bison
Head Coach: Dylan Barbee
Classification: AHSAA Class 2A
Area Number: Class 2A, Area 15
2024 Record (Finish): 21-11 (Eliminated in Sweet Sixteen)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Experience, Pitching

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2025

  • OF Jaxson Stiles (2025)
  • INF/RHP Brayton Johnson (2025)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

After missing the playoffs in 2022, the North Sand Mountain Bison have reeled off a pair of successful seasons, securing back-to-back appearances in the Class 2A Sweet 16. Following a strong 2024 season that saw them surpass 20 wins, the Bison return much of their talented roster and have their sights set on an even deeper postseason run in 2025.

Winning their area title, the Bison secured home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs, where they cruised past Holly Pond in a two-game sweep to earn a spot in the Sweet 16. However, their postseason run ended in the next round with a tough exit against Red Bay, falling by scores of 15-0 and 7-6 in eight innings. They closed the season with a 21-11 record and another Sweet 16 appearance. This year, North Sand Mountain looks to build on its recent success and push even further in the playoffs. With a seasoned roster, including seven returning positional starters and six pitchers, the Bison will rely heavily on their experience and depth on the mound. Leading the way is LHP/1B Mikey Poss (2025), a key two-way player. After serving as the team’s ace two seasons ago—posting 68 strikeouts and a 2.03 ERA—an injury sidelined him from pitching last year. Now healthy, Poss is set to reclaim his spot atop the rotation while providing a boost at the plate, where he hit .315 with 22 RBIs in 2024. SS/RHP Landon Keller (2025) is another key senior who will play a vital role on both offense and defense. Last season, he batted .333 with a home run and 20 RBIs while also recording a 3.66 ERA in limited innings. C/OF Jackson Burgess (2026) and LHP/OF Luke Reed (2026) are two juniors with multiple years of varsity experience. Burgess returns after hitting .379 with eight doubles, a home run, 20 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. Meanwhile, Reed is expected to be a major presence on the mound alongside Poss, coming off a strong 2024 season where he went 5-2 with 73 strikeouts, a 1.61 ERA over 56.2 innings, and added a .294 batting average with 20 RBIs at the plate. OF Jaxson Stiles (2025) and INF/RHP Brayton Johnson (2025) are two more senior leaders expected to contribute significantly. Stiles battled injuries last season but remained an offensive asset, while Johnson hit .278 with 16 RBIs. Both are looking for breakout performances in 2025. Among the younger players poised to make an impact, UTL/RHP Cooper Pierce (2028) and UTL Levi Burgess (2029) are emerging talents who saw limited action last year but are expected to take on larger roles this season. With a strong mix of veteran leadership and promising underclassmen, the Bison are well-positioned for another deep playoff run.

With a deep, experienced roster and a strong track record of success, the Bison are poised to make another strong push in 2025. They'll compete in Class 2A, Area 15 against Pisgah and Section for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. If they can capitalize on their experience and depth, the Bison have a real chance to make their deepest postseason run yet.

Find more information on the 2025 North Sand Mountain Bison program below:

+ Follow them on X: @NSM_Baseball
+ 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

 

Related Content