Alabama High School Team Preview: Faith Academy Rams
January 4, 2021
The 2021 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. That excitement may be at an all- time high entering this high school season as the 2020 high school baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season during an offseason unlike any other and as always, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Montgomery 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.
If you haven't listened to Episode 2 of Around the State, CLICK HERE to listen to Head Coach Matt Seymour preview the 2021 season for the Rams.
*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: Faith Academy
Classification: AHSAA 6A, Area 1
Positional Starters Returning: 4
Pitchers Returning: 3
Team Strengths: Pitching and Defense
Team Weaknesses: Key first year starters
Top Returning Players:
Top 2022 Prospects:
Top 2023 and 2024 Prospects:
2023 JHP Josh Gaffney
Outlook:
The Rams once again look to be a major player in the southern part of the state, this time in a very competitive 6A Area 1 race. Although they will be looking to some newcomers to produce in vital roles this year, the Rams have to like their chances at the top of their pitching rotation with senior right hand pitchers Parker Carlson (Auburn signee) and Drew Druckenmiller (Jones County CC signee). Carlson shows great poise on the mound while Druckenmiller uses a strong lower half with plus arm strength. Senior LHP Jaden Brown (University of Mobile signee) adds a quality 3rd arm for the Rams who shows plus command of all pitches. Faith Academy should be very strong on the left side of the diamond as seniors Michael Hopkinson (3B- Samford signee) and SS Gabe Broadus (Pearl River CC signee) return. Hopkinson shows smooth actions at the hot corner while also showing nice bat speed at the plate and is described as a "grinder" by head coach Matt Seymour. Broadus can really run and is a terror once on the bases but also packs plenty of punch with the bat. Senior Peyton Bell returns as a two way guy this season and will be counted on in the outfield and on the mound. Bell really covers some ground in the outfield and pitches with a bulldog type mentality. Junior catcher Colton Wood will handle the pitching staff and shows a lot of moxy behind the plate and has a significantly strong arm behind the dish. Three sophomores to remember this year and in years to come are OF Christian Burnette (also a big time RB on the Ram football team), RHP/INF Connor Robinson and RHP Josh Gaffney. Freshman RHP/INF Trey McDonald is another young name to keep an eye on in the future in the Faith Academy program.
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