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: Piedmont Bulldogs 

Coach’s Name: Matt Deerman 

Classification: AHSAA 3A 

2022 Record: 36-7

Area Number: Class 3A, Area 10 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 5 

Team Strengths: Experience and Comradery 

Top Returning Players:

• C/RHP Jack Hayes (Snead State CC, 2023)
• OF Max Hanson (Snead State CC, 2023)
• SS/RHP McClane Mohon (2024)
• INF/RHP Sloan Smith (2023)
• OF/RHP Jake Austin (2023)
• LHP Brodie Homesley (2025)

Top 2023 Prospects:

• INF Thomas Propst (2023)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• LHP/1B Cole Wilson (2025)
• C/RHP Kale Austin (2025)

Team Outlook

The Piedmont Bulldogs finished as the Class 3A runner-up a season ago, and will be looking to avenge their loss to Trinity Presbyterian in the State Finals in 2023. Using a good amount of returners both at the plate and on the mound, the Bulldogs look to have another strong team and should be a real threat once again this spring in 2023.

The Bulldogs were dominant during the regular season last year, winning over 30 games with big wins over programs like Gadsden City, American Christian Academy, Dothan, and other during the regular season. Entering the playoffs after sweeping their area, the Bulldogs swept their series over Sylvania, Childersburg, and Lauderdale County before matching up once again with Phil Campbell for a spot in the Class 3A State Finals. After dropping the series back in 2021, the Bulldogs took the series over the Bobcats by scores of 0-10, 16-9, and 8-4 to punch their ticket to the Class 3A State Championship where they would face Trinity Presbyterian. After winning Game 1 by score of 4-2, the Bulldogs would drop Games 2 and 3 by scores of 5-6 and 1-3 to end their season as the runner-up in Class 3A with a 36-7 record. Although they lose some seniors to graduation from a year ago, the Bulldogs still have plenty of experienced players coming back. C/RHP Jack Hayes (Snead State CC signee, 2023) has been a starter at the varsity level for the Bulldogs for the past four-plus years, and returns for his senior season hoping to go out with a Class 3A State Title. He has gap-to-gap power and will hit in the middle of the order for the Bulldogs.

.@PBR_Uncommitted ‘23 C Jack Hayes (@__JackHayes__; @PHSBaseball_16) finds the barrel & splits the LCF gap for an RBI double.

Strongly-built 5-11, 190 frame, quick & simple stroke through the zone, balls jumps off the bat w/ gap-to-gap power.#PBR17uNat || @ExcelBaseball pic.twitter.com/Fj3AdeXZ0e

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) July 25, 2022

C Jack Hayes (7/25/22)

Another senior returner that is headed to play at the next level is OF Max Hanson (Snead State CC signee, 2023), who will return to the top of the order for the Bulldogs. The senior right-hander is a gamer-type player with good speed on the base paths and can covers tons of ground defensively. He should be one of the table-setters for the middle of their lineup this spring.

.@PBR_Uncommitted ‘23 OF Max Hanson (@MaxBaseball4; @PHSBaseball_16) continues to build off of prior performances w/ a solid showing on Tuesday.

5-9, 150 frame, flat path w/ hard LD’s & some bat speed, 7.09 runner, went 2-3 during gameplay w/ a double.#ALTPGUpper22 pic.twitter.com/82MfjX6IkC

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) June 23, 2022

OF Max Hanson (6/23/22)

Two more upperclassmen looking to help lead the charge offensively will be SS/RHP McClane Mohon (2024) and INF/RHP Sloan Smith (2023), who return to the middle of the infield this spring for the Bulldogs. Both are hard-nosed players that played a large role on last year's team and will once again be key pieces to their lineup offensively this spring. OF/RHP Jake Austin (2023) is another senior returner that is expecting a big year, as well.

‘24 SS McClane Mohon (@McclaneMohon; @PHSBaseball_16)

5-11, 170 || 7.23 60 YD, 95 mph EV#NALPAS23 || @PBR_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/2modeSPMIS

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) January 7, 2023

SS McClane Mohon (1/7/23)

Some of these players mentioned above should also throw some important innings on the mound, but LHP Brodie Homesley (2025) pitched in some big games during the area series and playoffs last year as a freshman and returns as one of their pitchers once again. The southpaw pounds the zone with all of his pitches and keeps hitters off-balanced efficiently.

‘25 LHP Brody Homesley (@Brodie_Homesley; @PHSBaseball_16) battled for 4.2 innings to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance. Forced to make numerous big pitches during his outing.

FB: 76- 78 mph
CB: 66-69 mph
CH: 70-71 mph pic.twitter.com/rMe17KcC7L

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) May 17, 2022

LHP Brodie Homesley (5/17/22)

Replacing some of the seniors who graduated last year, the Bulldogs have some other older and younger players that will step into larger roles this spring. A few of those players to watch for this spring are INF Thomas Propst (2023), LHP/1B Cole Wilson (2025), and C/RHP Kale Austin (2025).The Bulldogs have continued to cement themselves as a powerhouse program in Class 3A over the past few years, and will look to continue their streak of making deep runs into the playoffs at the end of the year. The Bulldogs will compete in Area 10 with Saks, Walter Wellborn, and Weaver for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the year. They should once again be a strong contender to make it back to the Class 3A State Finals in 2023.

 

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