AL HS Team Preview: Robert E. Lee Generals

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: Robert E. Lee Generals

Coach’s Name: Eddie Banks 

Classification: AHSAA 7A 

2022 Record: 15-12

Area Number: Class 7A, Area 2 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 4 

Team Strengths: Leadership

Top Returning Players:

• MIF/RHP Jerald Bonner (2023)
• CIF/RHP Keishun McDaniel (2023)
• OF/RHP James Sanders (2023)
• OF Darryl Dees (2023)

Top 2024 Prospects:

• CIF Jakobe Shine (2024)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• C Wesley Holman (2026)
• OF/RHP Keshun Marbury (2025)
• 1B/RHP Braylen Matsey (2026)
• OF/RHP Jacorey Green (2025)

Team Outlook

The Robert E. Lee Generals slide up a classification this spring from Class 6A to Class 7A, and are placed in a five-team area with Dothan, Enterprise, Jeff Davis and Prattville which should end up being a tough area in the classification. They'll rely on some leadership from some key returning upperclassmen to help lead the way in 2023.

The Generals ended up winning their area last spring and hosted Pelham in the 1st round of the Class 6A playoffs, but were eliminated in two games to close out their season. It was a successful season that accumulated 15 wins over some solid competition in their area. With six returning positional starts returning and four pitchers, they'll look to continue to take the next step with their program as they move to the state's largest classification. MIF/RHP Jerald Bonner (2023), CIF/RHP Keishun McDaniel (2023) and OF/RHP James Sanders (2023) are three of those key returners that will be expected to contribute both at the plate and on the mound. All of them bring back experience from last year and are looking to take that next step this spring. Another key piece coming back for his senior season is OF Darryl Dees (2023), who also played a vital role on last year's team. All four of these players will be looked upon to lead the team from the front using their experience they gained over the past couple of years playing for the Generals. CIF Jakobe Shine (2024) is another upperclassmen that is expected to be a key contributor offensively, as well. 

The Generals will also be looking to mix in some newer players to this year's lineup and rotation while also getting them more experience for the coming years. A few of those underclassmen to watch for this spring are C Welsey Holman (2026), OF/RHP Keshun Marbury (2025), 1B/RHP Braylen Matsey (2026) and OF/RHP Jacorey Green (2025). One of the strengths for Robert E. Lee this spring will definitely be their leadership from some of the older guys, and they'll also need to find some depth on the mound from some younger players. The Generals will look to continue to take that next step with their program in their first year in Class 7A.

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