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AL HS Team Preview: Faith Academy Rams

February 2, 2023
PBR Alabama Staff

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: Faith Academy Rams

Coach’s Name: Matt Seymour 

Classification: AHSAA 6A 

2022 Record: 11-18

Area Number: Class 6A, Area 1 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 9

No. of Returning Pitchers: 8

Team Strengths: Pitching

Top Returning Players:

Team Outlook

The Faith Academy Rams come into the 2023 season with hopes of once again advancing to the Class 6A playoffs after winning the Class 6A State Title over Hartselle back in 2021. Last year's team may not have experienced that same type of success the previous team did, but it looks like the Rams return nearly everyone from last year's roster and will look to advance out of a tough area and make a deep run throughout the playoffs this spring.

Playing a really tough schedule in the regular season last year, the Rams may not have had the best record, but they were definitely well-prepared heading into their area series. The Rams played against the eventual Class 1A, 5A, and 7A State Champs during the regular season, so they were ready to play their best baseball once the end of the year came around. Finishing as the runner-up in a five-team area with Saraland, McGill-Toolen, Citronelle, and Blount, the Rams traveled to take on Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa in their 1st round matchup of the Class 6A playoffs. The Rams, however, were defeated by Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, who would eventually make it to the Final 4. They will look to be well-prepared in 2023, returning most of last year's team that should now be more experienced. 3B Connor Robinson (2023) will be the Rams' team leader this spring and one of their top offensive leaders. The senior infielders is coming off of a strong junior campaign and is expected to help lead the charge in the middle of the order in order for them to be successful.

3B Connor Robinson (1/8/23)

On the mound, RHP Eli Driskell (Auburn recruit, 2024) will provide a big boost to this team's pitching staff after sitting out last spring. He has a chance to be their top arm in the rotation this spring, using a fastball that can get up to 90 mph and a sharp slider as his primary secondary offering. He'll be a key piece for this Rams club that will look to make it deep into the playoffs this spring.

RHP Eli Driskell (7/30/22)

There are plenty of others from last year's team that come back this spring with more experience and confidence. Some of those players who are expected to once again play integral roles this year are MIF Riley Hall (2025), 3B Trey McDonald (2024), and 1B/LHP Cooper Smith (2026). Class 6A looks to be very deep once again this spring, but the Rams will look to rely on some of their returning players to lead them both at the plate and on the mound this spring in order for them to be successful. Faith Academy has always been one of the more consistently talented teams over the past few years, and they'll be a team to watch this spring in Class 6A.

 

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