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: Cedar Bluff Tigers

Coach’s Name: Jim Nelson 

Classification: AHSAA 1A 

2022 Record: 11-10

Area Number: Class 1A, Area 13 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 3 

Team Strengths: Returning 6 starters, more experience, some depth at the plate & on the mound

Top Returning Players:

• 3B/1B Hagen Stallings (2023
• OF Bucky Leek (2023)
• MIF/RHP Kaden Pack (2024)
• MIF/RHP Hunter Stallings (2025)
• OF/3B Eli McFry (2024)
• OF/LHP Isaac Bishop (2025)
• C/RHP Alex Baty (2025)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• LHP/OF Logan Hampton (2025)
• INF Jacob Chambers (2025)
• UTL Bryson Teague (2026)

Team Outlook

Coming into this year, the Tigers are looking to make it to the Class 1A playoffs after missing out last spring. They seem to have a few key pieces from that team last year that should make them a competitive club and will rely on some other newcomers to step into a bigger role in 2023.

After posting a winning record last year at 11-10, Cedar Bluff returns six starters and have some depth on the mound, as well. They did lose a couple of four-year starters to graduation, so they'll use the early part of the season to see who they can rely on to step into those roles. 3B/1B Hagen Stallings (2023) is one of these key returners mentioned that should be one of the leaders on this team. The right-handed hitting corner infielder has been one of the more consistent hitters the past couple of years and brings back plenty of experience at the plate. OF Bucky Leek (2023) is another senior for the Tigers that has some experience under his belt. Leek is a good runner and always seems to find a way to get on base. He's an aggressive baserunner that can also cover a ton of ground in the outfield. MIF/RHP Kaden Pack (2024) and MIF/RHP Hunter Stallings (2025) will look to hold down the middle infield spots this year, as well as log some big innings for the Tigers, too. Pack is one of the few pitchers returning and possesses some experience on the mound in big games. Stallings is an underclassmen that has gotten a lot stronger this off-season, and should see his power numbers increase this spring. OF/3B Eli McFry (2024) is another key returner that has played in almost every game over the past two seasons. He has good speed on the bases and will look to move to an infield spot after playing mostly outfield the past couple of seasons. A couple others to follow this spring will be OF/LHP Isaac Bishop (2025) and C/RHP Alex Baty (2025), both of whom saw playing time last year as freshman. Bishop was very consistent last spring at the plate, hitting over .400 in the process.

In addition to these returners for the Tigers, Coach Nelson will also depend on some younger players to increase their workload both at the plate and on the mound. LHP/OF Logan Hampton (2025) is an important piece on the mound that should get some opportunities at throwing some innings, while INF Jacob Chambers (2025) and UTL Bryson Teague (2026) are both utility-type players that will have a role on this team. Cedar Bluff will definitely be a team to watch this year in Class 1A with a strong nucleus of players coming back from last year's team.

 

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