AL HS Team Preview: Whitesburg Christian Academy Warriors

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: Whitesburg Christian Academy Warriors

Coach’s Name: David Wessinger 

Classification: AHSAA 2A 

2022 Record: 13-17

Area Number: Class 2A, Area 14 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 5 

Team Strengths: Pitching, Defense

Top Returning Players:

• SS/RHP Luke Holbrook (2025)
• UTL/RHP Kaleb Robinson (2025)
• INF/RHP Matthew Parks (2023)
• OF Andrew Summers (2025)
• C Tate Walker (2024)
• UTL Ben Pugh (2027)
• UTL Sam Barnes (2023)
• 3B/RHP Evan Dodd (2024)
• UTL Thomas Harmon (2023)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• UTL William Pugh (2025)

Team Outlook

The Whitesburg Christian Academy Warriors have plenty of returning starters coming back from last year's team that earned a Class 2A playoff berth, so they have some valuable experience coming back as they look to take that next step in 2023. The Warriors played a tough schedule in 2022, including multiple teams in classifications above them, and were prepared for area play and the playoffs. Hopes are high this spring with seven positional starters and five pitchers returning to the fold.

The Warriors were able to reach the Class 2A playoff in 2022, earning a spot as a runner-up in their five-team area with Decatur Heritage, Hatton, Tharptown and Tanner. They were, however, eliminated in the 1st round of the playoff as they lost to Southeastern by scores of 2-1 and 4-1 on the road to close out their season. This year, they have a chance to take that next step in their program with loads of experience coming back. SS/RHP Luke Holbrook (2025) will continue to be the starting shortstop and the ace for the Warriors this year after a breakout freshman campaign. In 2021, Holbrook, a Top-65 in the sophomore class, led the team in hitting going .330/.441/.505 with 13 2B's, a HR and 11 SB's at the plate. On the mound, the right-hander went 6-4 with a 3.32 ERA and 94 K's in just 52.2 IP.

‘25 SS/RHP Luke Holbrook (@BullsBaseball1) is another rising fresh. for the Bulls showing off some two-way potential.

Stays short here & drives a hard liner to the back side for a single.#ALSelect | @PBRTournaments https://t.co/isJ3GYPMLP pic.twitter.com/TYbP9xaCFw

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) June 13, 2021

SS/RHP Luke Holbrook (6/13/21)

UTL/RHP Kaleb Robinson (2025) is another fellow sophomore that did more than just hold his own last spring playing as a freshman. Robinson was their second-leading hitter last year just behind Holbrook posting .326/.459/.337 with 27 1B's and a perfect 22/22 on SB's. He also played a key role on the mound, going 2-3 with 3 SV's, a 2.17 ERA and 58 K's in 48.1 IP. He'll rotate playing between 2B, SS and 3B while serving as one of their top pitchers in the rotation. Another two-way player to watch for the Warriors will be INF/RHP Matthew Parks (2023), who is one of the few returning seniors. Parks slashed .303/.421/.337 last spring while mixing in 3 2B's and 16 SB's offensively. He'll also be looked upon for some significant innings on the mound. Some other notable returners that are sure to play a vital role in the Warriors' success will be OF Andrew Summers (2025), C Tate Walker (2024) and UTL Ben Pugh (2027). Summers and Walker both are looking to build on solid seasons last year as underclassmen, while Pugh is a youngster who found his way into the lineup at the midpoint of the season last year. UTL Thomas Harmon (2023) will also look to get back to full strength at some this point this spring after suffering an injury in the fall.

The Warriors will also be excited to get some additions to this year's roster, as a few were missed last spring due to various reasons. UTL Sam Barnes (2023) and 3B/RHP Evan Dodd (2024) are a pair of upperclassmen who missed last year's season due to injury, and are expected to provide a boost to this year's team. UTL William Pugh (2025) is an underclassmen added to the roster who is an athletic player that can play multiple positions defensively. He can run the bases well and will look to add depth to their infield and outfield. There's definitely plenty to be excited about this spring for Whitesburg Christian Academy with so much returning from 2022. Expect for the Warriors to be a competitive club in Class 2A this spring.

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