Prep Baseball Report

Alabama High School Team Preview: West Point Warriors


PBR Alabama Staff

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. 

 *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: West Point High School

Classification: AHSAA 5A Area 15

Positional Starters Returning: 6

Pitchers Returning: 5

Team Strengths: Will have plenty of experience and depth entering the 2021 season on the mound, in the field, and at the plate. 

Team Weaknesses: Lost a lot of experience and speed in the outfield from 2020

 

Top Returning Players:

2021 RHP/3B Aubry Cleghorn 

2021 2B/RHP Branson Smith 

2021 UTIL/RHP Will Cochran 

2021 C Chase Sibley 

2022 SS/RHP Eli Folds 

2022 RHP Caiden Rodgers 

2022 1B Isaac Hoffpauir 

 

Top 2023 and 2024 Prospects:

 2023 OF/C Brody Freeman

2023 OF Kanaan Sutter 

2024 INF/RHP JD Cochran 

 

Outlook: 

The West Point Warriors enter the 2021 season with a great deal of experience and depth all over the diamond and return 91 of the 97 innings pitched from the 2020 season. They return 7 players that saw time in a lineup that produced a team average of .312 in 2020. The biggest strength will be the Warriors pitching staff, which boasted a 3.09 team ERA and .227 BAA last season. Senior RHP/3B Aubry Cleghorn returns to anchor the pitching staff. The UAH signee had a tremendous shortened season in 2020 which saw him hit .511 with 1 HR while striking out 43 hitters in 28 innings pitched. Cleghorn had a 200 ERA and has been the ace of the staff the past two seasons as well as the heart of the Warriors offense. He will look to help lead the Warriors again in 2021 both on the mound and at the plate. Senior 2B/RHP Branson Smith has a solid glove in the middle of the diamond and will be the every day second baseman, but will also be used at the shortstop position. Also a dependable arm on the mound that gives the Warriors a chance to win each time he takes the ball. He looks to produce at the plate like he did as a sophomore in 2019 (.324/.390/.787, 124 PA, 20 RBI). Another senior, UTIL/RHP Will Cochran, also returns for his senior season after hitting .426 in 57 plate appearances last year.  Cochran has provided pop in the middle of the Warriors lineup that past two seasons and will look to continue to be a presence in the heart of the order in 2021. A utility player that will spend time at third base as well as in a corner outfield spot. Senior C Chase Sibley was a steady presence in the Warrior lineup in 2020 as a guy that consistently found ways to get on base and move runners. As a senior in 2021, he will carry a bulk of the workload behind the plate while also continuing to be a tough out in the lineup. He hit .440 a year ago. Three juniors that should play key roles in 2021 are SS/RHP Eli Folds, RHP Caiden Rodgers and 1B Isaac Hoffpauir. Folds established himself as a steady hand in the closer role for the Warriors in 2020 as a sophomore and will be called on as both a starter and closer in 2021, while also manning shortstop and providing a speed threat at the top of the Warrior lineup. Rodgers stepped up as a sophomore in 2020 and proved himself capable of handling the varsity level on the mound. He will be one of the top arms for the Warriors in 2021 and will be depended on to carry a workload of the innings this season. Hoffpauir was in the lineup just about every game as the DH in 2020 as a sophomore and will slide into the role of everyday 1st baseman this season. He should also help provide production in the middle of the Warriors lineup. A couple of sophomores and a freshman will be worth keepin an eye on this year and in the future. They are:

2023 OF/C Brody FreemanAthletic-build, solid player, great baseball IQ. Will spend majority of the 2021 season in the varsity outfield, but will provide innings behind the plate at times. In 2022 will transition over full-time as the starting catcher.

2023 OF Kanaan SutterRaw athlete with great wheels. Baseball IQ and skill set has improved drastically over the past two years. Great, young outfielder that can cover a ton of ground with great jumps/instincts. Continues to improve at the plate as well.

2024 INF/RHP JD CochranBig freshman with a lot of upside. Will spend one more season at the JV level before taking over full time at the varsity level as a corner infielder and will also fill a lot of varsity innings on the mound as a sophomore in 2022.

Keep an eye on the Warriors in 5A this season. 

 

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