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: Hamilton Aggies

Coach’s Name: Trent Williams 

Classification: AHSAA 4A 

2022 Record: 27-14

Area Number: Class 4A, Area 15 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 2 

Team Strengths: Athleticism, Solid Defensively 

Top Returning Players:

• RHP/3B Payton Purser (2024)
• SS/C Joseph Aycock (2023)
• RHP/3B Caden Foltz (2023)
• OF/RHP Mason Holloway (2027)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• 1B/RHP Brodie Moody (2025)

Team Outlook

The Hamilton Aggies started off the spring of 2022 ranked inside the Top-10 at No. 7, and finished as one of the last four teams standing in Class 4A last year. In a historic season that included 27 wins, the Aggies recored some strong wins during the regular season including West Point, West Morgan and Haleyville.

The Aggies seemed to really hit their stride towards the end of their season, taking down some quality programs en route to a Final Four berth in the Class 4A playoffs. After winning their area and sweeping past St. John Paul II in the 1st round, Hamilton earned a pair of series wins over Oneonta and Brooks after losing Game 1 in both of those series. They were, however, defeated by a tough Etowah squad in two games to end their season. This year, they'll look to take another step in the right direction while searching for some players to fill the roles left by last year's seniors who graduated. RHP/3B Payton Purser (2024) is a big piece coming who played a big role in last year's playoff run both on the mound and at the plate as a sophomore. After being the No. 2 in the rotation last year, he'll slide up and be the ace of this staff after turning in a 6-5 record with a 1.79 ERA. He stepped up in big spots in area and the playoffs going 5-1 during that time and only surrendering five earned runs in those starts. At the plate, the left-handed bat will hit in the middle of the order this spring after hitting .284 with 3 HR's, 7 2B's, 20 RBI's and 27 BB's last year. SS/C Joseph Aycock (2023) is another returning starter from last year after hitting in the leadoff spot in his junior season. Expected to return to the top of the lineup, the senior hit .302 with 37 R's, 21 RBI's, 22 BB's and 17 SB's in 161 plate appearances. He's expected to be their best defender and one of the unquestioned leaders for this Aggies' team. RHP/3B Caden Foltz (2023) is a two-way player who is expected to have another strong campaign after contributing last year. The senior hit .259 with 15 RBI's at the plate, while going 1-0 with a 1.70 ERA in 12.1 IP on the mound. He'll be sure to throw more innings this spring and step up as one of their top pitchers and hitters after a good off-season. One youngster who has already received significant playing time last year will be OF/RHP Mason Holloway (2027). Playing as a seventh-grader on last year's team, Holloway held his own batting .290 with 22 R's, 15 BB's and 11 RBI's in 87 plate appearances. He'll play up the middle on the infield while also getting some work in the outfield defensively, as well as being a key arm in their rotation. He should start the year out near the top of the order for the Aggies offensively. After being out all of last year due to an injury, 1B/RHP Brodie Moody (2025) is an underclassmen that they're excited about getting back at full strength. The sophomore played some as an eighth-grader back in 2021, so he's got valuable experience under his belt playing at the varsity level. He should be a key piece in the pitching rotation while being a power bat for Hamilton in the middle of the order.

The Aggies will still have some holes to fill in other areas due to losing some starters from last year's team, but there's still a strong core of returning players both at the plate and on the mound. They certainly know what it takes to make it deep into the playoffs after their 2022 run, and they'll be looking to make it further in 2023. Hamilton should once again be another competitive club to keep an eye out for in Class 4A. 

 

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