The 2023 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the Jacksonville/Oxford/Montgomery area at the AISA or AHSAA 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 across Alabama. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason Top 10 in each AHSAA classification. 

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each AHSAA classification as well as a Power 25. One thing that you especially don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state as well as recaps and previews of big games across the state.  

*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 Name: Albertville Aggies  

Coach’s Name: Andrew Kinney 

Classification: AHSAA 7A 

2022 Record: 13-17

Area Number: Class 7A, Area 7  

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 4 

Team Strengths: Returning Experience

Top Returning Players:

• SS Conner Lowery (2024)
• UTL Halen Painter (2023)
• OF Hayden Howard (2023)
• RHP/1B Reece Knight (2023)
• LHP/1B Seth Ennis (2023)

Top 2024 Prospects:

• OF Andy Howard (2024)
• C Gavin Jones (2024)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• 3B Kade Anderson (2026)

Team Outlook

The Albertville Aggies just missed the Class 7A playoffs in 2022, as they finished third in the area standings with Sparkman, Huntsville and Grissom. The Aggies racked up 13 wins on the season, including wins over Sparkman, two over Grissom, and Arab amongst others. They'll look to continue to be a competitive ball club entering the 2023 season with the same area.

The Aggies return as solid amount of returning players from last year's team both at the plate and on the mound, most of which who saw plenty of playing time at the varsity level in the highest classification the state has to offer. Some of those players may not have been everyday starters for last year's team, but saw significant time nonetheless. They should be a fairly strong offensive team this spring and will look to find some depth on the mound during the early part of the season. SS Conner Lowery (2024) will be one of their primary offensive leaders this spring, as he returns to the top of the lineup and the shortstop position defensively. The junior infielder has great range with a strong arm across the infield, and could be one of their top arms in the rotation, as well.

‘24 SS Conner Lowery (@ConnerLowery27; @AHS_Aggies) took quality swings from the right side during his BP round.

Frame has gotten stronger, uses lower-half well w/ good rhythm, swings w/ intent.#VBAScout || @ViperBaseball_ pic.twitter.com/1aQj7XuE5i

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) May 15, 2022

SS Conner Lowery (5/15/22)

UTL Halen Painter (2023) is a super-utility player that will do a ton of things offensively and defensively for the Aggies spring. He can multiple positions on the infield, including catcher, and is a contact-type hitter that will be in their pitching rotation this spring. OF Hayden Howard (2023) is a senior that plays solid defense in left field and is a consistent hitter in the box. Howard was voted to the First-Team All-Area 7 team, and is looking for another strong season at the plate this year. RHP/1B Reece Knight (2023) is a tall and lanky right-hander who has the ability to be a dominate arm for the Aggies' pitching staff. He is coming off an injury that plagued him for most of last season, but looks to be at full-strength and is looking poised for a breakout senior season. Rounding out the seniors, LHP/1B Seth Ennis (2023 ) will be another upperclassmen to watch, as he has a ton of pop in the left side of the box and is looking for a big senior campaign, as well. A few other players to watch this spring for the Aggies will be OF Andy Howard (2024), C Gavin Jones (2024) and 3B/RHP Kade Anderson (2026). All of these players will be asked to contribute their efforts both at the plate and on the mound in order for this team to be successful.

Playing in Class 7A, Albertville is in an area that seems to be wide-open every season with each team having a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. That will certainly be the goal this spring for the Aggies, as they have a strong core of returning players with experience coming back while also asking some newer players to step into larger roles. Albertville should once again be a solid, competitive ball club in Class 7A in 2023.

 

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