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Alabama HS Team Preview: Boaz Pirates

January 25, 2024
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

The 2024 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 rankings 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 ranks in each AHSAA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Boaz Pirates
Head Coach: Adam Keenum
Classification: AHSAA Class 5A
Area Number: Class 5A, Area 13
2023 Record (Finish): 23-15 (Eliminated in Final Four)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3
Team Strengths: Leadership, Offense

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

SS/RHP Tyler Pierce (6/13/23)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

It was a historic season for the Boaz Pirates, who surpased the 20-win mark and reached the Final Four in Class 5A in 2023. All signs point to another successful season paper this spring, but they'll need some newer faces to step into larger roles left by the seniors who graduated. 

The Pirates were consistently one of the better teams in a wide-open Class 5A last season, and they really started playing their best baseball down the stretch. Accumulating 23 wins in 2023, the Pirates defeated some noteworthy opponents in the process, including Albertville, Oneonta, North Jackson, Gardendale, Gadsden City, and Huntsville during the regular season. Finishing as the runner-up in their area, the Pirates defeated Springville, Madison Academy, and Arab, all of which in three games, and set the stage for a semifinal matchup against arch-rival Sardis. They were, however, defeated in two games to close their season at 23-15. While they are a bit inexperienced this season, they do have five seniors who have been inside their program and can provide valuable leadership. SS/RHP Tyler Pierce (2025) enjoyed a breakout campaign last season, and looks primed for another big season at the plate and on the mound. The uncommitted junior hit .356 last season with 11 2Bs and 28 RBIs, while also recording a 3.26 ERA with 82 Ks in 60 IP. C Daniel Posey (2024) will fully take over the backstop position defensively, but his bat has been a key factor for the Pirates the last couple of seasons. The right-hander finshed the season with a .310 batting average and added 7 2Bs, 2 HRs, and 25 RBIs as a junior. OF Elijah Kelley (2025) is another upperclassmen offensive returner that started in left field for the Pirates last season, and hit .314 with 9 2Bs and 23 RBIs. On the mound, RHP Cody McCormick (2024) will be a major factor on the mound this spring, and already has playoff experience starting Game 1 against Madison Academy in the Sweet 16 last year and earning the win. Expectations are also high for 3B/RHP Bradyn Bennett (2026), who will be counted on to contribute at the plate and on the mound this year. The sophomore improved tremendously last season and has made more strides during the off-season. 

The Pirates return some key pieces back from last year's team and will look to replicate the success from their Final Four run. They'll compete in Area 13 against Sardis and Crossville for a berth in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. They do have some production to replace this season, but all signs point to another strong spring in Class 5A in 2024.

Find more information on the 2024 Boaz High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @BoazBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2024 HS Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL ALABAMA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Alabama on X
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Facebook

 

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