AL HS Team Preview: Enterprise Wildcats
January 27, 2023
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: Enterprise Wildcats
Coach’s Name: Matt Whitton
Classification: AHSAA 7A
2022 Record: 20-12
Area Number: Class 7A, Area 3
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Offense Ability, Strong Defensively
Top Returning Players:
- OF Drew Shiver (Wallace-Dothan CC, 2023)
- SS/RHP Brady Richardson (Troy, 2025)
- RHP Austin Acreman (2023)
Top 2023 Prospects:
- OF Tal Sessions (2023)
- OF Tyson Cole (2023)
Top 2024 Prospects:
- UTL Gavin Mayo (2024)
- MIF/RHP Pittman Hall (2024)
Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:
- OF Cayden Boutwell (2025)
- LHP Brady Cavanaugh (2026)
- 3B Tyler Martin (2025)
- C Mikey Vanderheyden (Houston, 2025)
Team Outlook
The Enterprise Wildcats reached the 20-win mark for the second-consecutive year in 2022 finished as the runner-up behind Prattville in their area. Hopes seem to be high once again for the Wildcats to be a strong contender in a quality Class 7A with a good amount of talent coming back from last year's roster.
The Wildcats posted a 20-12 record last year and recorded some quality wins over programs like Auburn, James Clemens, Headland, Prattville, and others on their 2022 schedule. Enterprise traveled to Central-Phenix City in the 1st round of the Class 7A playoffs, and were eliminated in two games by the eventual Class 7A State Champions to close out their season. They'll look to use a strong group of returning seniors and juniors to mix with some talented underclassmen to have another successful spring this season. Looking to lead the offense once again this spring will be OF Drew Shiver (Wallace-Dothan CC, 2023), who is coming off a strong showing at this month's South AL Preseason All-State. Shiver, a Top-70 prospect in the senior class in AL, led the offense in multiple offensive categories during his junior season, hitting, .456 in batting average with 8 2B's, 3 3B's and 30 RBI's hitting towards the top of the order. He'll look to once again be a big part in their offense's success during his senior campaign.
‘23 OF Drew Shiver (@Drew_Shiver; @EHSBaseball8) @GovBaseball signee
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) January 8, 2023
6-1, 195 || 97.8 mph EV#SALPAS23 pic.twitter.com/MReFS2baHW
OF Drew Shiver (1/8/23)
Although still an underclassmen, SS/RHP Brady Richardson (Troy recruit, 2025) certainly did not play like an underclassmen last spring while playing an integral role for the Wildcats both at the plate and on the mound. Richardson, a Top-15 prospect in the sophomore class in AL, posted a .316 batting average at the plate and tossed 35 IP with 44 K's and a 2.90 ERA on the mound. Another player that was a top performer at the South AL Preseason All-State, Richardson will look for an even bigger campaign during his sophomore season.
‘25 SS/RHP Brady Richardson (@BradyRich15; @EHSBaseball8)@TroyTrojansBSB recruit
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) January 9, 2023
6-0, 195 || 6.94 60 YD, 96.9 mph EV#SALPAS23 pic.twitter.com/OeAd1P8GOH
SS Brady Richardson (1/8/23)
RHP Austin Acreman (2023) is a senior who also helped lead the charge on the mound for the Wildcats during his junior season after going 5-2 with a 2.75 ERA and 58 K's in 43.2 IP. The Wildcats will have to search for some depth on the mound, but Acreman looks to be a strong candidate to be one their more consistent arms on the bump. A few more upperclassmen that are expected to play big roles this spring and provide leadership for the Wildcats are OF Tal Sessions (2023), OF Tyson Cole (2023), UTL Gavin Mayo (2024), and MIF/RHP Pittman Hall (2024). There's also plenty of excitement for the future of the Enterprise's program with some talented younger players in their program. LHP Brady Cavanaugh (2026) is a freshman who is looking to see some time on the mound this spring, but is sure to be one to follow in the coming years. C Mikey Vanderheyden (Houston recruit, 2026) is a Top-10 prospect in the sophomore class in AL that should compete for a starting job this spring after moving in recently.
‘25 C Mikey Vanderheyden (@M_Vanderheyden_; @EHSBaseball8)
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 25, 2022
5-11, 170 || 2.00 pop, 76 mph C velo#SouthALSelect || @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/jbM5GiGmoy
C Mikey Vanderheyden (9/25/22)
3B Tyler Martin (2025) and OF Cayden Boutwell (2025) are a pair of sophomore Wildcats that showed well at the South AL Preseason All-State, and will look to make their impact this spring as underclassmen. Martin has pull-side power from the right side, while Boutwell is athletic outfielder who has continued to improve over the past year.
‘25 3B Tyler Martin (@TylerMartin2025; @EHSBaseball8)
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) January 8, 2023
6-1, 190#SALPAS23 pic.twitter.com/hL89Rp4zge
3B Tyler Martin (1/8/23)
‘25 SS Cayden Boutwell (@CaydenBoutwell; @EHSBaseball8)
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) January 9, 2023
5-10, 165 || 6.93 60 YD, 94.0 mph EV#SALPAS23 pic.twitter.com/mmJf2BTljc
OF Cayden Boutwell (1/8/23)
Enterprise seems to have the makings of being a strong offensive ball club with Shiver and Richardson looking to anchor the top of their order along with some other pieces that should replace some of the production left by last year's graduating seniors. They will look for some other players to provide some depth on the mound, but have a few returning pitchers that will look to lead the rotation this spring. Competing in a five-team Area 3 with Prattville, Dothan, Jeff Davis, and Lee-Montgomery, the Wildcats will look to reach the Class 7A playoffs once again in 2023 with hopes of advancing further throughout the playoffs.
Follow on Twitter: @PBR_Alabama
Follow on Instagram: @PBR_Alabama
Follow on Facebook: PBR Alabama
+ Click HERE to create a free profile.
+ Click HERE to purchase a subscription which gives you access to additional information on the site.