2025 Russellville Golden Tigers Team Preview

February 5, 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: Russellville Golden Tigers
Head Coach: Jess Smith
Classification: AHSAA Class 5A
Area Number: Class 5A, Area 14
2024 Record (Finish): 27-12 (Eliminated in Elite Eight)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Talented Youth, Pitching, Work Ethic, Mix of Returning Underclassmen & Veteran Upperclassmen

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

OF/LHP Brayden Entrekin (2028)
INF/RHP Tripp Cleveland (2027)
DH Neyland Baker (2025)
RHP Ty Engelthaler (2026)

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2025

1B/LHP Eli Boutwell (2025)
OF/RHP Gunner Sappington (2025)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

INF/RHP Caleb Hawkins (2028)

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Russellville Golden Tigers have been a dominant force in Class 5A for the past 15 years, consistently competing at a high level and winning state championships. Coming off another strong season with 25+ wins and a deep playoff run, they once again look poised for success. A perennial contender, the Golden Tigers remain a team to watch as they aim for another big year in 2025.

Once again claiming the area championship in 2024, the Russellville Golden Tigers entered the postseason as one of the hottest teams in Class 5A, having won 17 of their last 20 games. With momentum on their side, they looked like a strong contender for a state title run. After securing series wins over Pleasant Grove and Leeds, their season came to an end in the Elite 8 with a loss to Springville, finishing with an impressive 27-12 record. Last season, the Golden Tigers relied on several young, unproven players who gained valuable varsity experience as the year progressed. That experience should pay dividends this spring, as many of those underclassmen return with more confidence and maturity. One of the most exciting young talents is LHP/OF Brayden Entrekin (2028), who made an immediate impact as an eighth-grader. He posted a stellar 1.40 ERA on the mound and has continued to develop offensively, positioning himself as a key bat in the lineup this season. Another promising underclassman, INF/RHP Tripp Cleveland (2027), showed great potential as a two-way player before an injury cut his freshman season short. He recorded a 1.50 ERA on the mound and played a solid shortstop defensively. After adding size and strength in the offseason, Cleveland looks primed for a breakout year. The Golden Tigers also return key upperclassmen who will provide both production and leadership. DH Neyland Baker (2025) was a force at the plate last season, batting .375 with 15 extra-base hits and 41 RBIs, often delivering in clutch moments. RHP Ty Engelthaler (2026) logged 52 innings out of the bullpen in 2024 and is expected to transition into a starting role this year. Additionally, senior leaders 1B/LHP Eli Boutwell (2025) and OF/RHP Gunner Sappington (2025) bring experience and depth to both the lineup and pitching staff. Boutwell is a reliable defender at first base, while Sappington, whose fastball reaches the upper 80s, emerged as a key offensive contributor late in the season. Another underclassman to watch is INF/RHP Caleb Hawkins (2028), who possesses strong potential and could carve out a role early in the season.

With a strong mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent, the Russellville Golden Tigers are poised for another successful season in Class 5A. They'll compete in Class 5A, Area 14 against Lawrence County, Priceville, and West Point for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. After a deep playoff run in 2024, they have the experience and depth to contend for a state championship this spring.

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

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

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