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: Guntersville Wildcats

Coach’s Name: Kenny Chaffin 

Classification: AHSAA 5A 

2022 Record: 13-18

Area Number: Class 5A, Area 15 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 3 

Team Strengths: Senior Leadership, Team Chemistry 

Top Returning Players:

• OF Duncan Morris (2024)
• 1B Jack Chaffin (2023)
• INF Sam Canady (2023)
• C/RHP Cal Bearden (2023)
• RHP/INF Chase Pearce (2023)
• OF Hunter Taylor (2023)
• OF Seth Matthews (2023)

Top 2024 Prospects:

• OF Carter Britt (2024)
• UTL Conner Flanagan (2024)
• UTL Cole Green (2024)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• RHP/SS Cam Gentle (2025)
• MIF Grady Whitaker (2025)
• 1B Cole Adkison (2025)
• RHP Ransom Madden (2025)

Team Outlook

The Guntersville Wildcats come into the spring of 2023 with some key contributors coming back from last year's team, a few of which who have been three-year starters within their program. The Wildcats will look to use that upperclassmen leadership this spring and reach the Class 5A playoffs once again after being eliminated in the 1st round in 2022.

The Wildcats played a fairly tough schedule in 2022, and recorded wins over some quality programs including Albertville, Arab and others. They ended up being the winners of their area and hosted their 1st round matchup of the Class 5A playoffs against St. Clair County. After winning Game 1 of that series convincingly by a score of 12-2, the Wildcats dropped Games 2 & 3 and closed their season with a 13-18 record. There's plenty of reason to believe this spring that the Wildcats will be highly-competitive once again, but they'll need to do it in a new area in Class 5A that features Arab, Scottsboro and Douglas. One of the main strengths for this year's team is an important one to have, as they will rely on leadership from the seniors who have been in this program for the last 3+ years. They seem to be a close group with team chemistry, and will look for that to translate onto the field with quality play. OF Duncan Morris (2024) will be one of the main leaders and producers offensively after hitting in the leadoff spot a season ago. Morris is coming off an injury, but will look to have the same type of success he had during his sophomore season where he led the team in stolen bases. 1B Jack Chaffin (2023) will be one of the middle-of-the-order hitters that will look to drive in Morris and others after they reach base. Chaffin, a three-year starter for the Wildcats, will be their starting first basemen and is looking for another strong year after posting a .524 OBP to go along with three HR's in 2022. INF Sam Canady (2023) and OF Hunter Taylor (2023) are two more three-year starters that bring back loads of experience to this team. Canady can play multiple positions defensively and hit in the middle of the lineup, while Taylor is a quality defender in the outfield and uses his speed well to impact different facets of the game. C/RHP Cal Bearden (2023) will play a two-way role for the Wildcats this spring, serving as the starting catcher defensively and will also be expected to be one of the top three pitchers in the rotation. Also returning to the mound this spring is RHP/INF Chase Pearce (2023), who pitched a bunch of big innings for Guntersville a season ago and will be counted on once again during his senior season. OF Seth Matthews (2023) also brings back valuable experience serving as a quality defender in the outfield while also looking to provide some offensive output this spring.

Guntersville will also need some other players to slide up into bigger roles at the varsity level this spring in hopes of replacing some seniors who graduated last year both at the plate and on the mound. There are some quality juniors within this program who look to be viable options to do so, including OF Carter Britt (2024), UTL Conner Flanagan (2024) and UTL Cole Green (2024). All can play different positions defensively and will look to help contribute to their offensive efforts. The future of the Wildcats' program also looks strong with some quality younger players who will look to make their impact on this year's team. RHP/SS Cam Gentle (2025) will be counted on to pitch some big games this spring while also fighting for playing time on the infield.

‘25 RHP Cam Gentle (@ViperBaseball_ ) works a stress free inning in the 2nd using his FB exclusively. Drop and drive delivery, high waisted at 6-foot-0 with plenty of room to grow. High quality arm in the state of Alabama.

FB: 77-79, T80@PBR_Alabama #SGG21 pic.twitter.com/gpEt8iNpBj

— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 30, 2021

RHP Cam Gentle (5/30/21)

Two more infielders to watch for this spring will be MIF Grady Whitaker (2025) and 1B Cole Adkison (2025), both of which have a chance to hit in their lineup this spring. RHP Ransom Madden (2025) is another sophomore that has shown some potential on the mound and could help log some innings on the mound, as well. The Wildcats have some key pieces coming back in 2023, and will look once again to be a competitive ball club in Class 5A while aiming to play their best baseball once the end of the year comes around.

 

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