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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: Beech High School

Coach: Josh Carman

 

Classification: TSSAA AAA-District 9

 

 Top Returning Players:

2021 RHP Chase Burns (Tennessee Commit)

2021 RHP Luke Sinnard (Western Kentucky Commit)

2021 RHP Zach McWilliams (Uncommitted)

2021 C Caden Cutrell (Union Univ. Commit)

2021 SS/RHP Luke Fleming (Uncommitted)

 

2021 Prospects:

2021 RHP Chase Burns (Tennessee Commit)

2021 RHP Luke Sinnard (Western Kentucky Commit)

2021 RHP Zach McWilliams (Uncommitted)

2021 C Caden Cutrell (Union Univ. Commit)

2021 SS/RHP Luke Fleming (Uncommitted)

2021 RHP Kanon Lewis (Uncommitted)

2021 RHP Blake Brown (Uncommitted)

 

2022/Underclass Prospects:

2022 SS Ethan Jackson

2022 OF RJ Moore

2022 LHP Austin Cavender

2022 OF Parker Juillerat

2022 RHP Brock Duffer

2022 SS Preston Drebes

2022 OF Ryan Deakins

2023 C Houston Clark

2023 2B Isaiah Cates

2023 SS Hunter McLerran

 

Outlook: 

The Beech Buccaneers benefitted greatly when senior flamethrowers RHP Chase Burns (Tennessee) and RHP Luke Sinnard (Western Kentucky) elected for a change of scenery to close out their high school careers.  Burns notoriously ran the FB up to 100 this summer and anticipates to be an early pick in the MLB draft, as the most anticipated senior pitcher campaign will unfold this Spring since the late Donny Everett was running it up to triple digits in 2015. Sinnard a towering 6-foot-7 righty has ran his FB into the low 90s with improving CB and diving splitter as the duo joins returning Sr. RHP Zach McWilliams (Uncommitted), who is a mid 80s arm and throws an elite spin breaking ball (2700 rpm). Expect veteran arms ’21 RHP Kanon Lewis, ’21 RHP Blake Brown, and ’22 RHP Brock Duffer to provide depth behind the top three options, as all three have been low 80s with a jump that’ll only raise the floor for these squad. Sr. backstop Caden Cutrell (Union Univ.) will put in the work for the pitching staff and provide some power in the middle of the order as a run producer with ’23 C Houston Clark serving as a solid no.2 battery mate.  ’21 SS/RHP Luke Fleming returns from basketball and should handle SS duties while providing some innings on the mound with mid 80s FB. They’ll also have junior SS Ethan Jackson and switch hitter SS Preston Drebes to help handle middle infield duties as both put together a good offseason, both defensively and offensively.  Pope John Paul II transfer OF Parker Juillerat and ’22 OF RJ Moore will be able to cover some ground in the OF while putting pressure on defenses in many ways, wanting to use their legs to stretch extra bags.  With the big three arms including one in upper 90s/100, Beech is going to be tough to take out in the postseason, the Shackle Island Boys will look to dance back to the Spring Fling for the first time since 2017.  

 

Best of luck this season!

 

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