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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: Goodpasture Christian

Coach: Jim Carter

Classification: TSSAA D2A-District 4

 

 Top Returning Players:

2021 OF Brendan Jones (Kansas St. Commit)

2021 1B Abbott Lawrence (Columbia St CC Commit)

2023 SS Carson Rucker (Tennessee Commit)

2023 LHP Luke Payne (Tennessee Commit)

 

2021 Prospects:

2021 OF Brendan Jones (Kansas St. Commit)

2021 1B Abbott Lawrence (Columbia St CC Commit)

2021 RHP Joshua Moss (Uncommitted)

2021 C Carson Scott (Uncommitted)

 

2022/Underclass Prospects:

2023 SS Carson Rucker (Tennessee Commit)

2023 LHP Luke Payne (Tennessee Commit)

2022 OF Tanner Jones

2022 OF Tyler Jones

2023 OF/RHP Jaron Elkins

2023 LHP/1B Tanner Lane 

2023 RHP Connor Martin

2024 OF Bishop Quarles

2022 RHP Jonah Smithson

2022 SS Trace Anderson

2023 2B Hutson Miles

 

Outlook: 

The Cougars made it to the Spring Fling in 2019 and they will have a good mix of seniors plus a deep sophomore class. The Cougars have some serious luxuries in the outfield with Sr. OF Brendan Jones (Kansas State) taking care of CF plus toolsy ’23 OF/RHP Jaron Elkins, the Jones Twins, plus freshman OF Bishop Quarles waiting in the wings.  All five have shown the talent to play at the next level with most looking to be D1 outfielders and deservingly so.  On the dirt, ’23 SS Carson Rucker (Tennessee) will handle the middle with Jr MINF Trace Anderson and So. 2B Hutson Miles looking to get time as well.  Sr. 1B slugger Abbott Lawrence (Columbia St CC) will bring a level of physicality and juice to the lineup with ’23 LHP/1B Tanner Lane right behind him as solid lefty bat and strong frame as well.  On the mound, Cougars will run out various skilled arms like ’23 LHP Luke Payne (Tennessee), who was tickling 90 this preseason and more sharpness on his breaking ball.  Behind Payne, they’ll have Elkins who has been upper 80s with some natural cut, then ’23 RHP Connor Martin who was mid 80s last summer with feel for secondary. Sr RHP Joshua Moss should log some innings along with ’22 RHP Jonah Smithson, Tanner Lane, and potentially Quarles. The Cougars core senior group will lead a talented underclass groups that will have a lot of lefty bat and arm options, making them a tough game night in and night out.  

 

Best of luck this season!

 

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