2025 W.S. Neal Eagles Team Preview
December 26, 2024
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: W.S. Neal Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roberts
Classification: AHSAA Class 4A
Area Number: Class 4A, Area 1
2023 Record (Finish): 16-13 (No Postseason)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Experience, Pitching, Speed
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- OF Ja'Sean Jones (2025)
- INF/RHP Eli Stone (2026)
- SS/RHP Blake Roberts (2026)
- C/RHP Easton Grace (2026)
- UTL/RHP Colton Cain (2027)
- RHP/UTL Weston Hoomes (2027)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- RHP/1B JW Pettis (2027)
- OF Tyler Kirk (2027)
- UTL Jarrod Crook (2027)
TEAM OUTLOOK
The W.S. Neal Eagles make the jump up from Class 3A to Class 4A this spring and are hoping their returning players both at the plate and on the mound can lead them to another 15+ win season in 2025. After going 16-13 and just narrowly missing out on the playoffs last season, the Eagles are expecting another successful season and are looking to reach the playoffs in their new classification.
The Eagles got off to a red hot start last season, winning their first six games and scoring over 12 runs in four of those games. Playing a little bit stronger of competition down the stretch, they still amassed some noteworthy wins over quality competition and had their eyes set on reaching the playoffs in a three-team area. In their last area series of the season, however, they were defeated by Cottage Hill Christian and ultimately missed out on the playoffs. This spring, they return seven positional starters and six pitchers from last year's team and believe that overall team experience can be one of their main strengths. They should also be a team that has strong pitching a good overall team speed and athleticism. OF Ja'Sean Jones (2025) is one of their main senior returners on the offensive side of the ball and brings back a .329 batting average from his junior season. The outfielder also scored 33 times and will look to be a cataylst once again this season. INF/RHP Eli Stone (2026) put up some gaudy offensive numbers last season as a sophomore and returns looking for another breakout campaign as a junior. The infielder posted a .429 batting average with 6 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 21 RBIs, 34 Rs, 39 SBs, and a 1.091 OPS in 2024. SS/RHP Blake Roberts (2026) and C/RHP Easton Grace (2026) are two more juniors looking to increase their offensive productions after solid sophomore campaigns. Roberts drove in 24 runs and compiled a 2.62 ERA on the mound, while Grace hit .320 in batting average with 15 RBIs in 2024. UTL Colton Cain (2027) should also help out on the offensive side once again this spring, as he posted a .316 batting average with 21 RBIs and 5 2Bs as a freshman. He should also throw some innings on the mound, as will RHP/UTL Weston Hoomes (2027), who tossed 41 IP as a freshman in 2024 and posted a 2.90 ERA with 45 K. A few other sophomores looking to breakout and increase their roles this spring are RHP/1B JW Pettis (2027), OF Tyler Kirk (2027), and UTL Jarrod Crook (2027).
With how much the Eagles have returning, there is plenty of reason for the optimism this spring as they get ready to take on a new classification. They'll compete in Class 4A, Area 2 with Escambia County and Jackson for a spot in the Class 4A playoffs at the end of the regular season. Expect the Eagles to be a competitive club with experience in Class 4A this spring.
Find more information on the 2025 WS Neal program below:
+ Follow them on X: @WSNealHigh
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2025 HS Team Previews
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