Prep Baseball Report

AL HS Team Preview: Oneonta Redskins


PBR Alabama Staff

The 2023 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 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 in each AHSAA classification as well as a Power 25. One thing that you especially don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state as well as recaps and previews of big games across the state.  

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.


High School Name: Oneonta Redskins 

Coach’s Name: Keith DePew 

Classification: AHSAA 4A 

2022 Record: 24-5

Area Number: Class 4A, Area 11 

No. of Returning Positional Starters:

No. of Returning Pitchers:

Team Strengths: Pitching 

Top Returning Players:

  • INF/RHP Charlie Jones (Gadsden State CC, 2023)
  • INF/RHP Sam Patrick (Montevallo, 2023)

Top 2024 Prospects:

  • LHP Tanner Bartlett (2024)

Team Outlook

After finishing as the Class 4A runner-up in 2022, the Oneonta Redskins eclipsed the 20 win mark for the second-consecutive year and were ranked inside the Top-5 in their classification for the majority of the regular season. The Redskins will feature a new head coach this spring, as Keith DePew steps in to take over the program after former head coach Brandon Moore is now at Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) serving as the Director of Baseball Operations. They'll have to replace some seniors that graduated last spring, but there are some key pieces coming back for the Redskins in 2023.

The Redskins enjoyed a very strong regular season in 2022, as they entered the Class 4A playoffs with a 21-2 record with hopes of making it back to the state finals once again. They recorded some big wins in the regular season over Mortimer Jordan, Albertville, Hayden, Etowah and others en route to winning their area and hosting the 1st round of the playoffs. Matched up with Deshler, the Redskins took that series in three-games, and advanced to the 2nd round where they would play a strong Hamilton squad. Once again going to three games in the series, the Redskins were ultimately defeated by scores of 3-0, 3-5 and 5-8 to close their season at 24-5. This year, they'll look to replicate the success from last year with some newer faces stepping into bigger roles while also competing in a new area in Class 4A with Ashville, Good Hope and Hanceville. INF/RHP Charlie Jones (Gadsden State CC signee, 2023) is one of three returning positional starters and will look to help carry the Redskins both at the plate and on the mound. Jones has a smooth left-handed stroke at the plate and is looking to build off of last year's season on the mound, where he tossed 38.2 IP with 47 K's and a 1.99 ERA.

INF Charlie Jones (9/25/22)

Another key component coming back for his senior season is INF/RHP Sam Patrick (Montevallo signee, 2023), who is also expected to be one their leaders both at the plate and on the mound. Patrick also posted a 1.69 ERA on the mound as a junior last year while striking out 38 in 33 IP. He will also be a key run-producer in the middle of their lineup as a switch-hitter. Another upperclassmen who is expected to pitch some quality innings this spring for Oneonta will be LHP Tanner Bartlett (2024). Bartlett is a crafty southpaw who has a fastball that will work primarily in the low-80's with quality secondary offerings, as well. 

Slotted in a new area in Class 4A this spring, the Redskins will look for their pitching to help carry them just like it did last year allowing just under 60 runs for the whole season. They have some needs to fill from some younger players, but all signs point towards another strong season in 2023 for the Redskins. Look for Oneonta to be right back in the mix once the end of the season comes around in Class 4A.

 

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