Prep Baseball Report

AL HS Team Preview: Springwood Wildcats


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: Springwood Wildcats

Coach’s Name: David Hudson 

Classification: AISA - Class AAA

2022 Record: 15-9

No. of Returning Positional Starters:

No. of Returning Pitchers:

Team Strengths: Offense 

Top Returning Players:

  • INF/RHP Luke Hudson (2024)
  • OF/RHP Cayden Cook (2023)
  • INF/RHP Ben Cooper (2023)
  • INF/RHP Eli Johnson (2024)
  • C Dallas Pearson (2023)

Team Outlook

The Springwood Wildcats enter the 2023 season with high hopes of making it back to the AISA Class AAA playoffs, where they were eliminated in the Round of 16 last spring. The Wildcats do, however, return a healthy number of offensive returners and a few key arms in their rotation from last year's team. They'll look to have a strong season this spring while attempting to advance further throughout the playoffs.

After advancing to the Round of 16 in last year's playoffs, the Wildcats were ultimately defeated by Morgan Academy to end their season with a 15-9 record. This year's team will look to rely on their offense, as they bring back six players who hit in their lineup last year. In some areas, however, they will be a bit inexperienced and will be looking for some younger players step up into bigger roles. INF/RHP Luke Hudson (2024) is once again expected to be one of their leaders offensively after enjoying a strong sophomore campaign.

INF Luke Hudson (6/10/21)

OF/RHP Cayden Cook (2023) and INF/RHP Ben Cooper (2023) are two seniors who will also play a key role on this year's lineup, while also logging some key innings on the mound. INF/RHP Eli Johnson (2024) will also look to provide some offensive output in addition to his efforts on the mound, while C Dallas Pearson (2023) looks to handle the pitching staff this spring.

After posting an impressive 15-win season in 2022, the Wildcats will look to continue to take the next step this spring and advance further throughout the AISA Class AAA playoffs. They should be strong offensively this spring, and will rely on some newer guys to chip in with production this spring. It should once again be another strong season for Springwood in 2023.

 

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