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: Greenville Tigers 

Coach’s Name: Josh Beverly 

Classification: AHSAA 5A 

2022 Record: 18-9

Area Number: Class 5A, Area 5 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 8 

Team Strengths: Team Speed, Defense, Top of Pitching Rotation

Top Returning Players:

• OF/LHP Christian Hill (2023)
• 1B/RHP Austin Beck (2025)
• RHP/INF Thomas Williamson (2024)
• RHP/INF Sandrell Williams (2025)
• RHP/C Benton Taylor (2025)

Top 2024 Prospects:

• UTL Bobby Cook (2024)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• UTL Trip Albert (2026)

Team Outlook

The Greenville Tigers are coming off of a strong season in 2022, accumulating an impressive 18-9 record in Class 5A, but ultimately just missed the playoffs finishing 3rd in the area standings. This spring, they have been moved to Area 5 which consists of Demopolis and Selma, and will look to reach the Class 5A playoffs with a strong core of returning players coming back from last year's team.

Two of the most important aspects for a team to be successful is pitching and team defense, and that should be a strength for this team in 2023. The Tigers return eight pitchers who saw time on last year's squad, and also return five positional starters, as well. They will need some younger players to step into key roles this spring, but overall, they have high hopes to have another successful spring. OF/LHP Christian Hill (2023) enjoyed a strong summer in 2022, showing well in a couple of PBR tournaments, and will look to combine the work he's put in during the off-season to have a quality senior season. Hill is a dynamic two-way player who is expected to lead the Tigers both at the plate and on the mound. The senior is a career .409 hitting in terms of batting average, and also threw 47 IP while allowing a 2.83 ERA on the mound.

.@PBR_Uncommitted ‘23 OF/LHP Christian Hill (@Christian_Hill1; @TigerGreenville) singles up the middle in the leadoff spot for @Post70Baseball.

Uses lower-half well in 5-11, 185 frame, strong top hand turns the barrel w/ intent. Hit just under .500 this spring.#PBRTALOpen pic.twitter.com/nvjuweLMYI

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) June 10, 2022

OF Christian Hill (6/10/22)

A younger player that brings back two years of experience after being one of their top hitters during his eight-grade and freshman season will be 1B/RHP Austin Beck (2025). Beck is a physical right-hander hitter who will return to the middle of the order after hitting .425 as an eighth-grader and .369 as a freshman last year. He will also be counted on as one of their top pitchers in the rotation, as well.

‘25 1B Austin Beck (@Austin_Beck14; @TigerGreenville) works a long at-bat & stays short on this breaking ball to drive it to LF for a single.

Showed some pull-side pop during his round of BP with a max EV at 89.4 mph using a strong 6-2, 230 frame.#SouthALSelect pic.twitter.com/OLj97IzHYf

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 25, 2022

1B Austin Beck (9/25/22)

Now back to full-strength, RHP/INF Thomas Williamson (2024) will provide a big boost for the Tigers both at the plate and on the mound after missing the majority of last spring to injury. Williamson is expected to provide plenty of offensive production hitting from the heart of the order while logging some quality innings on the mound, as well. A pair of sophomores that return to the fold this spring after serving as part-time starters will be RHP/INF Sandrell Williams (2025) and RHP/C Benton Taylor (2025). Williams has played some type of role for the Tigers ever since his seventh-grade year, while Taylor will be a quality arm out of the bullpen and serving as their starting catcher defensively. 

The Tigers certainly had a strong season last year, but will be definitely be motivated this spring after just missing the playoffs playing in a difficult area in Class 5A. Hopes are high once again, and it's easy to see why how much returning players they have coming back who saw significant playing time over the last few seasons. The Tigers will certainly be a team to watch in Class 5A this spring.

 

Follow on Twitter: @PBR_Alabama
Follow on Instagram: @PBR_Alabama
Follow on Facebook: PBR Alabama