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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: Briarcrest Christian High School

Coach: Craig Hopkins

Classification: TSSAA D2-AA-West Region

 

 Top Returning Players:

2021 SS/RHP Michael Dallas (Kentucky Commit)

2021 3B Tyler Harrington (Memphis Commit)

2021 SS Jonah Sutton (Memphis Commit)

2021 RHP Preston Ewing (Samford Commit)

2021 2B Mick Arney (Southwest TN CC Commit)

 

2021 Prospects:

2021 SS/RHP Michael Dallas (Kentucky Commit)

2021 3B Tyler Harrington (Memphis Commit)

2021 SS Jonah Sutton (Memphis Commit)

2021 RHP Preston Ewing (Samford Commit)

2021 2B Mick Arney (Southwest TN CC Commit)

2021 SS Luke Willard (Freed Hardeman Commit)

2021 RHP/1B Eli Whittington (Uncommitted)

2021 SS Tate Gentleman (Christian Brothers U Commit)

2021 SS Trey Burd (Uncommitted)

 

2022/Underclass Prospects:

2023 LHP Matthew Dallas (Tennessee Commit)

2022 OF Joshua Russell

 

Outlook: 

The Saints will boast one of the deeper senior classes in the state and added a big underclass arm with hopes of getting back to the D2-AA final four for the first time since 2017.  Briarcrest will have three senior D1 infielders to shuffle around with SS/RHP Michael Dallas (Kentucky), 3B Tyler Harrington (Memphis), and MINF Jonah Sutton (Memphis).  Dallas is one of the top SS in the state with strong offensive profile to go with the glove while also a backend option on the mound, running the FB into the upper 80s.  His left side partner Harrington returns from basketball and is an agile, power bat that will be in a run producer role in the middle of the order.  Sutton came on strong this summer and showed a well rounded game, ability to play multiple positions and fill in for Dallas at SS if he's on the mound.   Expect Mick Arney (Southwest TN CC), Luke Willard (Freed Hardeman), and Tate Gentleman (Christian Brothers Univ.) contribute in many ways and provide a deep veteran presence. On the mound, long, lanky '23 LHP Matthew Dallas (Tennessee) transferred over to join his brother and should be a mid to upper 80s with a strong breaking ball. They'll have some options on the mound, but this will be one of the tougher lineups in the state with power surge potential. 

 

Best of luck this season!

 

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