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Alabama HS Team Preview: Helena Huskies

February 14, 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: Helena Huskies
Head Coach: PJ Guy
Classification: AHSAA Class 6A
Area Number: Class 6A, Area 5
2023 Record (Finish): 14-20 (Eliminated in Sweet Sixteen)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 7
Team Strengths: Experience, Maturity, Team Speed, Pitching Depth

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

OF/LHP Jarret Scott (6/4/22)

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2024

  • RHP/1B Bennett Plowden (2024; uncommitted)
  • INF Ty Stricklin (2024; uncommitted)
  • RHP/3B Carson Acker (2024; uncommitted)

INF Ty Stricklin (5/29/21)

Class of 2025

C Nick Peters (10/14/23)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

OF Davis Kelley (7/18/23)

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Helena Huskies looks to once again be on the rise in Class 6A this spring and is a program our staff is very bullish on in 2024, hince the top-5 ranking in our preseason poll. After an incredible run of teams a few years ago, the Huskies have to be excited about this season with tons of talented returners coming back and some younger players ready to take the next step.

Debuting at No. 5 in our preseason poll in Class 6A, we obviously expect the Huskies to have a strong season this year. Bringing back seven positional returners and seven pitchers who saw time on the mound last spring, you have to like the way this season is shaping up if you're a fan of the Huskies. Last year, although entering the playoffs with a 12-18 record, the Huskies were much better than that record reflected, as they played some of the best teams in Alabama throughout the regular season. After winning their area, Helena hosted the 1st round of the playoffs and swept Wetumpka to advance to the Sweet 16, where they would face Saraland. The Huskies, however, were eliminated in two games to close their season with a 14-20 record. This year, expectations continue to rise with a talented and experienced roster coming back for another season. 3B Braydon Kendrick (2024) returns as the leading hitter from last year as a sophomore and is hoping to replicate last year's season with a higher volume of power output this year. OF/LHP Jarret Scott (2025) has been as consistent as they come for the Huskies and has been an everyday starter since his freshman season. Expect him to contribute on both sides of the ball this spring. OF John Martin Williamson (2024) is an elite defender patrolling center field and really made significant strides offensively towards the end of the last year. They're expecting big things from him this season, while RHP Logan Barber (Lawson State CC, 2024) and RHP Brayden Dockery (Auburn, 2026) are a pair of top returning arms from last year's pitching staff. Barber has tons of experience and looks back to full strength after missing some of last year due to injury, while Dockery is a top-15 prospect in 2026 class in AL and has a chance to be a special arm this season. OF/RHP Hayden Berry (2024), SS Caleb Higgins (Lawson State CC, 2024), and 1B Reece Mims (2024) are three more senior returners who are going to be big pieces to their offensive success this season, as well. Looking at some other upperclassmen who are expected to contribute and step into bigger roles this season are RHP/1B Bennett Plowden (2024), INF Ty Stricklin (2024), RHP/3B Carson Acker (2024), C Nick Peters (2025), RHP Austin Acosta (2025), RHP John Englezos (2025), and RHP Brody Butler (2025). All should be important pieces this spring whether it be on the mound or at the plate, and hopes to provide some valuable contributions on both sides of the ball for the Huskies. OF Davis Kelley (2026) and C Samuel Odom (2026) are a pair of sophomores who should compete for playing time on a team that features heavy amount of juniors and seniors. Both are very talented and have a chance to lead this spring, whether it be this spring or over the next couple of years.

It's fairly easy to see the Huskies should be a strong club in Class 6A this spring with loads of returning back on both sides of the ball. They'll compete in Area 5 against Calera and Chilton County for a berth in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Expect Helena to make a strong push for a deep playoff run in a wide-open Class 6A in 2024.

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

+ Follow them on X: @HelenaHuskiesBB
+ 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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