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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 Tennessee.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at the TSSAA Spring Fling 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. 

We start diving into the Preseason Power 25 Rankings, highlighting some of the deepest clubs across the state. Although we could have done 40+ clubs with so many talented teams getting tuned up for the 2021 season, we can only rank 25 and this list will continue to change as the season plays out on the field.  There will be teams not on the list that will be battling for a state championship come late May, so take it for what it's worth, as no championships have ever been won on paper.  

 *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: Collierville High School

Coach: Jeff Munier

Classification: TSSAA AAA-District 15

Team Strengths: Deep crop of outfielders with some veteran prescience and postseason experience, adding elite arm in Grayson Saunier

Team Weaknesses:  Well covered group with some known prospects, but who will be an emerging prospect to round out roster to get to Spring Fling.

 

 Top Returning Players:

2022 RHP/OF Grayson Saunier (Ole Miss Commit)

2021 OF Carson Chavies (Union Univ. Commit)

2021 2B/3B Seth Brown (Christian Brothers Commit)

2022 RHP/OF Luke Whaley  

 

2021 Prospects:

2021 OF Carson Chavies (Union Univ. Commit)

2021 2B/3B Seth Brown (Christian Brothers Commit)

2021 RHP/3B Connor Blair

2021 2B/RHP Noah Stewart

 

2022/Underclass Prospects:

2022 RHP/OF Grayson Saunier (Ole Miss Commit)

2022 RHP/OF Luke Whaley

2022 RHP/OF Ryan Neilson

2022 C Trent DeZemplen

2022 LHP Zach Streitmatter

2023 3B/OF Matthew Autry

2023 SS/OF Joey Caruso

2023 3B/RHP Thomas Crabtree

2023 RHP/3B Bryce Griffith

   

Outlook: 

Since 2015, the Dragons (@Cvillebaseball_) have consistently turned out 30+ win seasons appearing in sub-state every year, and mixing in a couple state tournament trips with their last in 2018.  A traditional powerhouse in the Memphis area and definitely the state, the Dragons lost some pieces from a good 2020 group that went 3-1 last season, but the Dragons added Ole Miss commit RHP Grayson Saunier, who features one of the most polished mixes in the state.  Saunier has an upper 80s FB, trickling into the 90s with a high spin bender CB and a devastating fading CH, a true three pitch mix to go along with a lean, athletic frame.  He'll mostly likely be tabbed the number one arm after Sam Poindexter's graduation (Union University). Behind Saunier, expect two-way RHP/OF Luke Whaley to take on district innings with his mid 80s FB and also contributing with the bat in the outfield.  Positionally, it's a veteran heavy group of seniors and juniors, expect to see switch hitting OF Carson Chavies (Union Univ. commit) patrolling CF and handling the bat at the top of the order.  Bat-heavy INF Seth Brown (Christian Brothers U. commit) to lead the infield after showing some juice and physicality at West TN Preseason All State. Collierville will have a deep crop of options to fill out the roster like, '22 RHP/OF Ryan Neilson, '22 C Trent DeZemplen, and '22 LHP Zach Streitmatter. The Dragons will play a tough schedule, opening with Briarcrest to start the year, and should be groomed to make another run back to the Boro.  

 

Best of luck this season!

 

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