AL HS Team Preview: McAdory Yellow Jackets

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: McAdory Yellow Jackets 

Coach’s Name: Chris Shelton 

Classification: AHSAA 6A 

2022 Record: 14-15

Area Number: Class 6A, Area 7 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 5 

Team Strengths: Experience, Athleticism 

Top Returning Players:

• MIF/RHP Jackson Dexter (2023)
• C/RHP Egan Lowery (2023)
• OF Marcus Rouse (2023)
• SS/RHP Cooper Walls (Delta State, 2024)
• C/RHP Braden Mowery (2023)

Top 2023 Prospects:

• LHP Ben Kervin (2023)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• 3B/RHP Aaron Bailey (2026)

Team Outlook

The McAdory Yellow Jackets reached the Class 6A playoffs once again in 2022 finishing as the area runner-up to Hueytown, but were eliminated in the 1st round by Gulf Shores in two tightly-contested contests to end their season. This year, the Yellow Jackets will look for another successful season as they move to Area 7 in Class 6A with Briarwood Christian and Pelham.

The Yellow Jackets certainly have some key components coming back from last year's team, and they should only continue to improve as they play together. With five positional starters coming back from 2022, they'll look for some players to step up and deliver offensive production in bigger roles. They look to be fairly experienced with multiple upperclassmen looking to carry the load this spring, which is always a good thing. MIF Jackson Dexter (2023) is one of those senior returners with experience that will play a two-way role for the Yellow Jackets. The right-hander should move up in their lineup, and throws strikes on the mound. Dexter is also a strong defender up the middle and will be one of the leaders for this team. C/RHP Egan Lowery (2023) is another one to watch this spring for the Yellow Jackets both at the plate and on the mound. Lowery is a quality defender behind the plate handling the pitching staff and has shown gap-to-gap pop hitting from the left side. SS/RHP Cooper Walls (Delta State recruit, 2024) was one of the top hitters on last year's team and is looking for an ever bigger junior season. Walls is a silky smooth defender up the middle and a steady offensive producer hitting in the middle of the order. He'll also be counted on to be one of their top pitchers on the staff with a fastball that can get into the mid-80's.

.@PBR_Uncommitted ‘24 INF Cooper Walls (@Cooper_Walls; @McAdoryBSBL) letting the hands work w/ an athletic swing & quality B2B skills during his round.

Top-of-the-order type, consistent hard contact, strong arm across the INF at 86 mph.#ALASG22 pic.twitter.com/zoKxqKnx3Z

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) July 6, 2022

SS Cooper Walls (7/6/22)

LHP Ben Kervin (2023) will provide a big boost for this pitching staff this spring after missing almost all of last year due to injury. The senior southpaw was their No. 1 arm in the rotation as a sophomore two years ago, so he's looking for a big spring now that he's back to full strength. OF Marcus Rouse (2023) and C/RHP Braden Mowery (2023) are also a pair of seniors that are key returners for the Yellow Jackets. Rouse has real speed in the outfield and uses it track down balls with ease, and will also be up towards the top of the order with some pop hitting from the right side of the plate. Mowery, in addition to Lowery, will also be asked to catch a lot of innings behind the plate and is looking for a breakout season at the plate, as well. One young prospect to keep an eye on this spring for McAdory will be 3B/RHP Aaron Bailey (2026), who is a Top-15 prospect in the freshman class. Bailey is advanced hitter for his age with gap-to-gap pop and also has a fastball that can get into the mid-80's on the mound.

‘26 3B/RHP Aaron Bailey (@AaronBailey48; @McAdoryBSBL) creating loud contact off the barrel using quick hands & 6-1, 165 frame.

Continues to build off previous looks w/ multiple low-90 EV’s. Also works in the low-80’s on the mound.#ALFallGames pic.twitter.com/BQLnuuSul1

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) August 28, 2022

3B Aaron Bailey (8/28/22)

The Yellow Jackets will look to continue their run of reaching the Class 6A playoffs once again this spring, which is never an easy thing to do with how deep this classification is. They have a strong nucleus of returners coming back this year and have a quality arm returning to their staff after missing most of last year's season. There's plenty of reason for optimism for McAdory this spring as they'll be very competitive and experienced in 2023.

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