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: Vincent Yellow Jackets
Head Coach: Timothy Junkins
Classification: AHSAA Class 2A
Area Number: Class 2A, Area 9
2024 Record (Finish): 29-6 (Eliminated in Elite Eight)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Pitching

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• RHP/INF Aiden Poe (Air Force, 2025)
• UTL Casen Fields (2025)
• OF/LHP Grayson Gulde (2025)
• RHP/OF Landon Archer (2027)
• RHP/INF Calvin Johnson (2026)
• 1B Ethan McElrath (2025)
• RHP/INF Aiden Gasaway (2025)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Very few programs throughout the state of Alabama have experienced the type of success the Vincent Yellow Jackets have had over the last three years, as they've eclipsed the 25-win mark in back-to-back-to-back seasons and finshed as the Class 2A runner-up in 2023. Still with that success, the returning starters for the Yellow Jackets are looking to go out with a state championship, and it's looking like they'll once again be one of the frontrunners to be in that discussion during the preseason. It's shaping up to be another exciting and strong season for the Yellow Jackets in 2025.

Going into the playoffs with a 24-4 record and being ranked No. 1 in Class 2A for the majority of the season, the Yellow Jackets had a big target on their back as they looked to reach the Class 2A State Finals after finishing as the runner-up the year prior. Sweeping past their first two rounds of the playoffs against Lindsay Lane Christian and Fyffe, the Yellow Jackets hosted powerhouse Mars Hill Bible in what turned out to be a thrilling three-game series in the Elite 8. Vincent was able to take Game 1 via a walk-off, but dropped Games 2 and 3 of the series to close out their season with a still impressive 29-6 record and another deep playoff appearance. Turning the page to 2025, Vincent once again looks strong with numerous returners coming back on both sides of the ball, especially on the mound. This season, the Yellow Jackets all but one pitcher from last year's pitching staff and have a pair of front-line arms leading the rotation. It all starts with RHP/INF Aiden Poe (Air Force, 2025), who has been the ace of the pitching staff for quite some time now. The senior right-hander has an upper-80s fastball with wipeout secondary pitches and pin-point command for all offerings. You have to like your chances when Poe takes the ball, as he's coming off a 12-1 record on the mound with 134 Ks, 8 BBs, and a 0.97 ERA, just hilarious numbers. His excellent control and high-level stuff has helped him create an unbelievable K/BB ratio over the past few years, and looks ready to go out with another big spring campaign as a senior. Behind him, RHP/OF Landon Archer (2027) also possesses a big fastball that has crept into the upper-80s on the mound. As a freshman in 2024, Archer posted a 6-1 record with 52 Ks and a 1.40 ERA. Look for him to build off of a strong freshman campaign on the mound and at the plate. Offensively, UTL Casen Fields (2025) is the straw that stirs the drink at the top of the order, and is coming off a junior season where he posted a .407 batting average. A high-level athlete, the senior also swiped 35 total bases, as well. OF/LHP Grayson Gulde (2025) is another multi-year returning starter who hit .358 in his junior season, while 1B Ethan McElrath (2025) and RHP/INF Aiden Gasaway (2025) are two more seniors who will play vital roles in a variety of ways. McElrath hit .300 in batting average with 5 HRs, while Gasaway had a .980 fielding percentage last season and is looking to contribute offensively this spring. RHP/INF Calvin Johnson (2026) is another key returning pitcher to the Yellow Jacket's pitching staff who saw plenty of time on the mound last season. As a sophomore in 2024, the right-hander went 2-1 out of the bullpen with 6 SVs, 33 Ks, and compiled a 2.71 ERA. Look for his workload to increase this spring.

The Yellow Jackets enter this season looking to advance to the Elite 8 or further for the fourth-consecutive season in Class 2A, and certainly appear to have the talent to do so. They'll compete in Class 2A, Area 9 against Cornerstone and Westminster-Oak Mountain for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Expect the Yellow Jackets to be one of the better teams heading into the season with the hopes of raising the Class 2A Blue Map at the end of the season in 2025.

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

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

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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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