Starting off a new series this spring, we've decided to highlight 10 teams throughout the Class 7A-1A Top-10 Polls that are trending up and have gotten off to good starts in their 2023 season. This series will be released every two weeks of the season and will highlight teams that have made big jumps in the Top-10 or have made their debut in the rankings in their various classification. After a little over two weeks of the 2023 season, we're excited to give recognition to this week's 10 teams who have gotten onto strong starts and will be looking to continue their success throughout the rest of the season.

To see the most recent Class 7A-1A Top-10 polls headed into Week 3 of the season, CLICK HERE.

 

+ THOMPSON WARRIORS

Head Coach: Frankie Perez
2023 Record: 12-0
Classification, Area No.: Class 7A, Area 5
Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 7A No. 3

+ There may not be a team throughout the state that has gotten off to as hot of a start as the Warriors have this spring, as they currently have an undefeated record of 12-0 after just over two weeks of play. One thing that has been so impressive about their start to the season is how they've been able to defeat some strong programs, especially in our PBR AL Kickoff Classic, with wins over teams like Mountain Brook, Gardendale, Chelsea, Sparkman, Helena, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Gulf Shores, and others this spring. They began the season just narrowly outside of the Top-10 in Class 7A, but have quickly made the rise up to No. 3 in this week's update with their quality play so far. It's been a stellar start to their 2023 campaign, but will need to continue to play their best baseball at the end of the season in one of the toughest areas in the state against Hoover, Tuscaloosa County, and Vestavia Hills, who are all ranked inside the Top-10 in Class 7A.

+ Tuscaloosa County Wildcats

Head Coach: Nick Richardson
2023 Record: 10-1
Classification, Area No.: Class 7A, Area 5
Preseason Ranking: 7A No. 7
Current Ranking: 7A No. 4

+ Competing in the largest classification in the state of Alabama, the Wildcats have started of the season as hot as anyone boasting a 10-1 record heading into the third week of the season. They continued their steady climb up the Class 7A Top-10, coming in at No. 4 in the most-recent update this week. The Wildcats are led by a strong core of juniors and seniors who have shown excellent leadership and quality of play on the field, with signature wins over teams like Hartselle, Gulf Shores, Athens, Fairhope, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, and others en route to 10 wins. We were able to see them in multiple games last weekend at the PBR South AL Showdown, and were very impressed with the how they were able to win in a variety of ways. Their offensive lineup is deep, and they seem to have a strong staff on the mound, as well. Like Thompson, they will compete in one of the toughest areas in the state against Hoover, Thompson, and Vestavia Hills, who are all ranked inside the Top-10 in Class 7A.

+ Northridge Jaguars

Head Coach: Guy Howard
2023 Record: 6-5
Classification, Area No.: Class 6A, Area 6
Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 6A No. 6

+ Although their record may not be as flashy as some of the other teams on this list sitting at 6-5 on the young season, the Jaguars have consistently been amongst some of the top teams in Class 6A over the past seasons and this year seems to be no different. Starting out just outside the Top-10 in the preseason, the Jaguars made their debut in this week's update after a perfect 3-0 week win quality wins over Hazel Green, Stanhope Elmore, and Bibb County, who are all teams ranked inside the Top-10 in their respective classifications. Although they have five losses, three of those losses were one-run games to Mobile Christian, Hewitt-Trussville, and Spanish Fort while the other two were to Central-Phenix City, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 7A. While we pay attention to records when doing our polls, we certainly take into account the level of competition and the margin of victory/defeat of teams, which is why Northridge has made a strong jump this week.

+ Mobile Christian Leopards

Head Coach: Jason Smith
2023 Record: 7-3
Classification, Area No.: Class 5A, Area 2
Preseason Ranking: 5A No. 7
Current Ranking: 5A No. 2

+ It's no secret that Mobile Christian is one of the top baseball powers in the state of Alabama and has been for the past few years with consecutive Class 4A State Championships. Although they have lost some big pieces from last year's team to graduation, the Leopards have shown the ability reload with younger talent in the early part of the season. Starting off the season at No. 7 in their first year in Class 5A, the Leopards have made a steady climb up the list in just a couple weeks to No. 2. They currently have a 7-3 record with noteworthy wins over Northridge, Fairhope, Daphne, and American Christian Academy. Mobile Christian always seems to play a tough schedule and this year seems to be no different. They will look to continue their streak of state titles and win their third-consecutive in their first year in Class 5A.

+ Elmore County Panthers

Head Coach: Michael Byrd
2023 Record: 6-2
Classification, Area No.: Class 5A, Area 4
Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 5A No. 6

+ The Panthers have seemed to only get better as the season has gone on and already have some signature wins under the belt in the early part of the season. Sitting at No. 6 in Class 5A with a 6-2 record, the Panthers started just outside the Top-10 in the classification but quickly showed how strong of a club they were with big wins over Andalusia and Holtville, two teams that are ranked inside the Top-5 in their respective classification. Their two losses were to some strong competitors in the Montgomery area, dropping games to Stanhope Elmore, the No. 3-ranked team in Class 6A, and Trinity Presbyterian, the defending Class 3A State Champions. The season is still young and there's lots of baseball left to play, but the Panthers have come out strong out of the gate.

+ Andalusia Bulldogs

Head Coach: Kevin Madden
2023 Record: 7-1
Classification, Area No.: Class 4A, Area 3
Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 4A No. 4

+ The Bulldogs have seemed to be as hot as anyone out of the gate in Class 4A while accumulating a strong 7-1 record in the process. Although it's fairly early in the season, Andalusia has recorded some noteworthy wins over teams like Pike Road, Greenville, TR Miller, and Opp with some coming in convincing fashion. Due to their play on the field, they've skyrocketed up the rankings in Class 4A from being unranked in the preseason to No. 4 in the most-recent update. Their lone loss on the young season was to a strong Elmore County team over the past weekend that was just mentioned above for being a riser in Class 5A. With still much of the season to go, the Bulldogs seem to be one of the top teams near the Wiregrass area and will look to continue their strong play throughout the rest of the spring.

+ Westbrook Christian Warriors

Head Coach: Jerry Windle
2023 Record: 5-1
Classification, Area No.: Class 3A, Area 11
Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 3A No. 7

+ Westbrook Christian is a program that always seems to be strong threat year in, and year out and knows what it takes to win after winning the Class 2A State Championship in 2021. The Warriors began the season just outside the Top-10 in Class 3A but haven quickly proven that they are deserving of being one of the Top-10 teams in their classification. They've come out strong out of the gate with wins over North Jackson, Deshler, West Point, and Oneonta, while their lone loss was to Etowah, the No. 2-ranked team in Class 4A. They have a strong slate of games coming up on their schedule in the next few weeks, but have shown the ability to not only compete, but to win against some of those schools in larger classifications. In a year where Class 3A looks to be wide-open with quality teams throughout, the Warriors are certainly a team in that classification to keep an eye on as the season goes on.

+ TUSCALOOSA Academy Knights

Head Coach: Lee Evans
2023 Record: 5-1
Classification, Area No.: Class 2A, Area 7
Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 2A No. 6

+ Making the move from AISA this spring and starting a new era in AHSAA, the Knights have had no trouble against some strong competition in the early part of the season. Starting outside the Top-10 in the preseason, Tuscaloosa Academy quickly found their way inside the rankings after a 5-1 to start to their season. They've beaten Hale County twice, American Christian Academy, and a strong Gordo squad that is ranked inside the Top-3 in Class 3A. Their one loss of the season has been to Oak Grove, who has also been playing some good baseball out of the gate this spring. The Knights have been one of the top teams year in, and year out at the AISA level, and will look to have that same impact at the Class 2A level this spring.

+ Donoho Falcons

Head Coach: Steven Gendron
2023 Record: 4-0
Classification, Area No.: Class 2A, Area 13
Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 2A No. 7

+ Rising up a classification after being a powerhouse program in Class 1A over the past few seasons, the Falcons seem to be acclimating well to Class 2A with an undefeated start throughout the first couple of weeks. They've shown the ability to score in bunches en route to a 4-0 start, including surpassing the 10-run mark in two of those wins over Faith Christian and Westminster School at Oak Mountain. They also defeated Weaver by score of 9-2, and recorded a huge win on Monday night with an 8-4 victory over Piedmont, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 3A. They have a few more talented teams in Collinsville and Ohatchee on this week's schedule, but it's safe to say the Falcons will look to continue their steady play with a strong group of upperclassmen that will look to continue to lead the way as the season goes on.

+ Billingsley Bears

Head Coach: Jeffrey Alexander
2023 Record: 5-1
Classification, Area No.: Class 1A, Area 6
Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 1A No. 3

+ After starting out the season just outside the Top-10 in Class 1A, the Bears have had a steady climb up the list over the first couple of weeks, and now sit inside the Top-3 after a strong 5-1 start. They've come out of the gate hot, winning their first five games of the season before dropping a close game to Dallas County by score of 4-3. Of their five wins, the Bears have scored 10 or more runs in those contests, so the offense has come out swinging it early in the season. They've accumulated wins over Selma, Isabella, Holy Spirit Catholic, and Indians Springs, and will look to continue their steady play throughout the season and be prepared for area play in Class 1A against Maplesville, Verbena, and Autaugaville at the end of the season.

 

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