Continuing off a new series this spring, we've decided to highlight 8-10 teams throughout the Class 7A-1A Top-10 Polls that are trending up and have made jumps over the course of the last couple of weeks. 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.

We're excited to give recognition to this week's eight teams who have continued their success through the middle part of the season and will be looking to continue their success throughout the rest of the playoffs.

 

+ Spain Park Jaguars

Head Coach: Will Smith
2023 Record: 25-7
Current Ranking: 7A No. 3
Classification, Area No.: Class 7A, Area 6

+ The Spain Park Jaguars have proved to be one of the better teams across the state, especially in Class 7A, and have already clinched their spot in the playoffs competing in one of the toughest areas in AL. The Jaguars really hit their stride down the stretch and collected some noteworthy wins during the middle part of the season over Thompson, Oxford, Vestavia Hills, Tuscaloosa County, Hoover, and Bayside Academy, three of which who are ranked No. 1 in their respective classification. Their offense has really been one of their strengths this season with talented hitters like 1B Cole Edwards (Auburn, 2023), INF Evan Smallwood (Jacksonville State, 2023), OF Jacob Tobias (Lipscomb, 2023), C Clay Spencer (2023), and others leading the way. The Jaguars started off area play with back-to-back sweeps over Oak Mountain and Hewitt-Trussville to clinch their playoff spot, and are facing Chelsea tomorrow night to determine the area championship after dropping Game 1 by score of 8-3.

+ James Clemens JEts

Head Coach: Johnny Johnson
2023 Record: 27-9
Current Ranking: 7A No. 9
Classification, Area No.: Class 7A, Area 8

+ After beginning the season ranked inside the Top-10, the Jets struggled a bit out of the gate starting the season with a 1-3 record and falling outside of the Top-10 after the first week. That quickly changed after a couple weeks with the Jets seeming to find their groove during the middle part of the season and ultimately made their way back into the Top-10 in Class 7A at No. 9 in the most recent update. The Jets have enjoyed some big wins over teams like Alexandria, Hazel Green, Smiths Station, Etowah, Russellville, Holtville, Enterprise, Sparkman, and others on their regular season schedule. On the mound, RHP Luke Davenport (Auburn, 2024) has really taken the reigns of the pitching staff as the ace this spring, while their offense is led by SS Andrew Lawrence (East Tennessee St., 2023), C Colten Payton (Wallace-Hanceville CC, 2023) 1B Nathan Guyse (2023), and INF Ty Marsh (2025). After winning their first two area series over Florence and Austin, the Jets will face No. 4 Bob Jones for the Area 8 Championship starting tomorrow.

+ Hueytown Golden Gophers

Head Coach: Billy Chandler
2023 Record: 25-9
Current Ranking: 6A No. 8
Area Finish/1st Round Matchup: Class 6A, Area 8 W / vs. Faith Academy

+ The Hueytown Golden Gophers are another team like James Clemens that struggled a bit out of the gate this spring playing in the PBR AL Kickoff Classic, and were outside the Top-10 in Class 6A for the first couple of weeks with a 3-6 record. They quickly righted the ship shortly after with a nine-game winning streak and now head into the Class 6A Playoffs with one of the better records at 25-9 and No. 8 in the most-recent update. They picked up noteworthy wins over teams like Faith Academy, Oak Mountain, Mortimer Jordan, Helena, Hewitt-Trussville, GW Long, Gardendale and others while sweeping through their area with relative ease. They are led on the mound by LHP/OF John Michael Pickens (Shelton State CC, 2023), while players like UTL/RHP Aaron Wallace (Gadsden State CC, 2023), 1B Sylas Amick (2023), SS Carson Barry (2023), and UTL Daniel Watkins (2023) have helped lead the offense. They are set to host Faith Academy in a best two-of-three series in the 1st round of the Class 6A Playoffs this weekend.

+ Gulf Shores Dolphins

Head Coach: Chris Jacks
2023 Record: 23-11
Current Ranking: 5A No. 6
Area Finish/1st Round Matchup: Class 5A, Area 1 W / vs. Shelby County

+ The Gulf Shores Dolphins made the move down for Class 6A to Class 5A this spring and once again look to be real threat to make a deep run throughout the playoffs after winning their area. The Dolphins head into the playoffs with a 23-11 record and jump up a few spots to No. 6 in the most-recent Class 5A Top-10. They have accumulated some strong wins over teams like Hartselle, Faith Academy, Mobile Christian, UMS-Wright, and other teams on their schedule. RHP/SS Connor Gehr (2024) has been a major piece for them both on the mound and at the plate so far this spring, and is one of the top uncommitted players in the junior class in AL. C Dominic Maldet (Montevallo, 2023) has been a multi-year starter for the Dolphins and once again anchors the heart of the order offensively while handling their pitching staff well behind the plate. Other players like INF/RHP Joseph Stephens (2024), INF Reid Achimon (2023), OF Brendon Byrd (2023), INF Alex Rippy (2024), and others have also provided large amounts of offensive production this spring. The Dolphins will face a quality opponent right out of the gate in the 1st round against Shelby County in a best two-of-three series this weekend.

+ Russellville Golden Tigers

Head Coach: Jess Smith
2023 Record: 18-12
Current Ranking: 5A No. 9
Area Finish/1st Round Matchup: Class 5A, Area 14 W / vs. Southside-Gadsden

+ The Russellville Golden Tigers have consistently been a major powerhouse in Class 5A over the past decade with multiple state championships and with first-year head coach Jess Smith at the helm, the Golden Tigers once again seem to be playing their best baseball heading into the playoffs. Coming in at No. 9 in the most-recent update and possessing an 18-12 record after struggling a bit out of the gate, they've seemed to hit their stride down the stretch accumulating wins over teams like Florence, Arab, and other quality teams on regular season schedule. RHP/OF Banks Langston (Northwest Shoals CC, 2023), LHP/OF Logan White (2023), and RHP/INF Brayden Spurgeon (Northwest Shoals CC, 2023) are a trio of two-way players that have continued to make a big impact on both sides of the ball, while C Shayden Romans (Calhoun CC, 2023), SS Brandt Cummings (2024), 3B Cayden Johns (2024), and 1B Eli Boutwell (2025) have helped lead the charge offensively, as well. After winning their area, they will face-off against Southside-Gadsden in a best two-of-three series in the 1st round of the Class 5A Playoffs.

+ Deshler Tigers

Head Coach: Justin Cantrell
2023 Record: 22-10
Current Ranking: 4A No. 9
Area Finish/1st Round Matchup: Class 4A, Area 15 W / vs. Cordova

+ The Deshler Tigers spent the majority of the season just outside the Top-10 in Class 4A, but made their debut this past week coming in at No. 9 and heading into the playoffs with a strong 22-10 record. The Tigers have racked up some notable wins en route to surpassing the 20-win mark over quality teams like Lawrence County, Colbert County, Madison County, Haleyville, Hamilton, and others on their regular season schedule. While having very few losses on the season, the Tigers played some tough competition this spring against other teams like Florence, Westbrook Christian, and Winfield with all three of those losses being tightly-contested games. They ended up winning their Area 15 Championship with a 5-1 area record and won the tie-breaker game against Central-Florence and will be hosting the 1st round of the Class 4A Playoffs against Cordova, a best two-of-three series that is set to get started here in a couple days. They will be a team to watch throughout the playoffs in Class 4A.

+ Providence Christian Eagles

Head Coach: Casey Smith
2023 Record: 16-8
Current Ranking: 3A No. 3
Area Finish/1st Round Matchup: Class 3A, Area 3 W / vs. Greensboro

+ The Providence Christian Eagles may be one of the hottest teams heading into the Class 3A Playoffs coming off of a huge area sweep that gave them the Area 3 Championship. The Eagles have been in the middle of the Top-10 for the whole season and have made their biggest jump in the most-recent update to No. 3 as they prepare for their 1st round matchup. Boasting a 16-8 record, the Eagles have defeated some quality competition this spring like Houston Academy, Dothan, Pike Liberal Arts, Headland, Montgomery Catholic, Wicksburg, and others on their regular season schedule. While having eight losses this spring, some of those losses have come to the hands of some larger classification schools and quality teams in their respective classifications, including Auburn, Opelika, Enterprise, Prattville, and GW Long. They are led by a strong core of upperclassmen including LHP/OF Harrison Mims (2023), RHP/SS Porter Dykes (2024), C Matt Dave Snell (Enterprise State CC, 2023), and other players that have helped provide contributions on the mound and at the plate. The Eagles are set to host Greensboro in a best two-of-three series in the 1st round of the Class 3A Playoffs this weekend.

+ Lexington Golden Bears

Head Coach: Sam Hathorn
2023 Record: 21-2
Current Ranking: 2A No. 6
Area Finish/1st Round Matchup: Class 2A, Area 16 W / vs. No. 5 Vincent

+ It's been a historic season so far for the Lexington Golden Bears, who jump up a couple spots to No. 6 in the most-recent Class 2A Top-10 and are set to the host their 1st round matchup after winning their area championship. The Golden Bears boast arguably one of the better resumes in Class 2A with an impressive 21-2 record heading into the playoffs that includes quality wins over teams like Mars Hill Bible, Lauderdale County, and other teams in the northern part of the state this spring. They've seemed to be as consistent as anyone in their classification with their two losses to West Limestone and Silverdale Baptist Academy (TN), a pair of larger classification schools in AL and TN. Arguably their two biggest wins of the season have come against Mars Hill Bible, one of the top programs in Class 2A, in an area series sweep that earned them the Area 16 Championship. The Golden Bears will be challenged right out of the gate in their 1st round matchup, as they will host No. 5 Vincent in a best two-of-three series in Class 2A.

 

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