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: Stanhope Elmore Mustangs 

Coach’s Name: DK Shuman 

Classification: AHSAA 6A 

2022 Record: 26-14

Area Number: Class 6A, Area 3 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 10 (Entire staff) 

Team Strengths: Starting Rotation, Bullpen Depth, Experience

Top Returning Players:

• RHP/SS Zach Stevens (South Alabama, 2023)
• OF Chase Williams (Alabama-Birmingham, 2023)
• LHP/OF Colin Woodham (Jacksonville State, 2023)
• 3B/RHP Colton Walls (Troy, 2023)
• RHP/OF Evan Duncan (Gulf Coast CC, 2023)
• OF Tevin Landrum (2023)
• OF/RHP Brodie Cockrell (2023)
• INF Hayden Anderson (2026) 

Top 2023 Prospects:

• LHP Winston Person (2023)
• RHP Matthew Gainey (2023)
• C/RHP TJ Lambert (2023)

Top 2024 Prospects:

• RHP Dylan Dent (2024)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• LHP Tyler Woodham (2025)
• LHP/1B Jackson Stallworth (2025)
• OF/RHP Cavarous Ellis (2026)

Team Outlook

The Stanhope Elmore Mustangs seemed to get better as the season went on last year and looked like they began to play their best baseball of the season when it counted. After reaching the Elite 8 last spring in Class 6A, the Mustangs look to be one of the more experienced teams across the state in 2023.

The Mustangs eclipsed the 20-win mark a season ago and recorded big wins over quality programs like Central-Phenix City, James Clemens, Holtville, and others on their regular season schedule. After finishing as the runner-up behind Wetumpka in their area, the Mustangs hit the road for their 1st round playoff series against an Opelika team that had already beaten them twice in two one-run games in the regular season. Stanhope Elmore, however, responded to adversity by winning Games 2 and 3 of the series after dropping Game 1 to advance to the Sweet 16. In their 2nd round matchup, they hosted a Gulf Shores squad that was ranked inside the Top-5 in Class 6A for most of the season, but the Mustangs were able to sweep the Dolphins by scores of 6-4 and 7-4 (9 innings) to punch their ticket to the Elite 8. Matching up against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa in the 3rd round, the Mustangs were ultimately defeated in two games to close their season at 26-14. It was a very successful season, but with eight positional starters and their whole pitching staff coming back in 2023, the Mustangs will look advance even further throughout the Class 6A playoffs this spring. Speaking of their pitching staff, Stanhope Elmore should have one of the more deeper and talented pitching rotations this spring with four pitchers that have signed on to play at the next level, three of which are headed to Division 1 programs. RHP/SS Zach Stevens (South Alabama signee, 2023) is a frontline arm that can run his fastball into the low-90's while featuring one of the better secondary arsenals in the state with his primary offering being a wipeout slider. He punched out 84 hitters a season ago while compiling a 2.74 ERA in the process. Stevens is a four-year starter that will also provide some offensive production in their lineup, as well.

.@SouthAlabamaBSB signee & ‘23 RHP Zach Stevens (@Z3charyStevens; @SE_Baseball) showing some overpowering stuff w/ a really quick arm.

FB: 90-92, 92.3
SL: 76-78 (2800)
CB: 75-76 (2700)
CH: 80-81

Former #PBRFG21 that continues to fill out his frame.#SALPAS23 || @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/moTq8LAVhk

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) January 9, 2023

RHP Zach Stevens (1/8/23)

Another key returning piece for the Mustangs this spring will be LHP/OF Colin Woodham (Jacksonville State signee, 2023), who led the team in multiple categories on the mound a season ago. The southpaw operates in the low-to-mid-80's with his fastball to go along with excellent pitchability and feel for his secondary offerings. He is also a four-year starter that punched out 91 hitters while compiling a 1.65 ERA.

.@PBR_Uncommitted ‘23 LHP Colin Woodham (@WoodhamColin; @SE_Baseball) operating in the low-80’s & up to 83 mph in his first two innings.

Good feel for a well-shaped SL in the low-70’s in all counts. Allowed an unearned run in the 1st.

Lots of strikes.

Mustangs trail 1-0, T3. pic.twitter.com/onLnVuxSQN

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) February 28, 2022

LHP Colin Woodham (2/28/22)

Four-year starter OF Chase Williams (Alabama-Birmingham signee, 2023) is an athletic, do-it-all type player that will return to the top of the order this spring. Williams has been a big piece to their offense serving as a catalyst in their lineup after hitting .475 in batting average and a 1.160 OPS last year as a junior. As a switch-hitter, Williams will look to once again help set the tone and lead the offense during his senior season.

.@UAB_Baseball recruit & ‘23 SS Chase Williams (@Chase23Williams; @SE_Baseball) splits the pull-side gap here in the 4th & scores one on an RBI double.

Uber-athletic skill set finds firm contact attacking w/ a level path.

Mustangs now lead 5-0, T5. pic.twitter.com/HRqDur7LUf

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) March 31, 2022

OF Chase Williams (3/31/22)

Two more senior returners that bring back multiple years of starting experience at the varsity level will be 3B/RHP Colton Walls (Troy signee, 2023) and RHP/OF Evan Duncan (Gulf Coast CC signee, 2023). Both of these players return to the heart of the order for the Mustangs and will also be quality options on the mound using upper-80's fastballs. Walls served primarily as their cleanup hitter last spring and hit 7 HR's with a 1.134 OPS to go along with a 1.33 ERA on the mound, while Duncan also belted 7 HR's with a 1.230 OPS and a 1.73 ERA on the mound. Look for these two players to once again be key pieces this spring for the Mustangs.

.@TroyTrojansBSB recruit & ‘23 3B/RHP Colton Walls (@ColtonWalls7; @SE_Baseball) with a nice barrel here for a wind-aided double but is left stranded. Walls is also an upper 80’s arm on the mound.

No score thru 5 innings. pic.twitter.com/04EKcydXev

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) March 23, 2022

3B Colton Walls (3/23/22)

Good look at 6-6, 245 @PBR_Uncommitted ‘23 RHP Evan Duncan (@SE_Baseball) as he punches out the side in the 5th.

Opens up pumping an easy 85-89 mph FB w/ life through the zone. Developing feel for mid-70’s SL, but plenty to dream on w/ more in the tank.@ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/gQ05eVjz5c

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) March 26, 2022

RHP Evan Duncan (3/26/22)

A few more notable returners to this year's roster are OF Tevin Landrum (2023), OF/RHP Brodie Cockrell (2023), and INF Hayden Anderson (2026). Landrum is another three-year starter, while Cockrell and Anderson took quality at-bat's offensively last spring. Some other upperclassmen who are expected to make an impact on this year's team will be LHP Winston Person (2023), RHP Matthew Gainey (2023), and C/RHP TJ Lambert (2023). Person is a low-80's southpaw that posted a 1.35 ERA a season ago, while Gainey and newly-added Lambert are expected to take over important roles for the Mustangs. RHP Dylan Dent (2024) is another quality option out of the bullpen that features a mid-80's sinker to go along with a sharp breaking ball. He should throw some meaningful innings this spring for the Mustangs. In addition to these returning starters and upperclassmen, Stanhope Elmore also has a few young prospects looking to make their impact at the varsity level this spring and set the foundation for the future of their program. LHP Tyler Woodham (2025) is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound southpaw that pitched in some area and playoff games out of the bullpen as a freshman last season, and is expected to once again be a solid option in their pitching staff. LHP/1B Jackson Stallworth (2025) is another sophomore left-hander that's coming off a stellar performance at last month's South AL Preseason All-State, showing pull-side power offensively and a fastball that worked up to 87 mph on the mound. OF/RHP Cavarous Ellis (2026) is another younger prospect that will look to compete for some playing time while providing depth at key positions.

‘25 LHP/1B Jackson Stallworth (@JStallworth2025; @SE_Baseball) is another intriguing two-way w/ upside on the mound.

FB: 83-85, 86.8
SL: 73-75 (2300)
CB: 68-70
CH: 70-71

Strong frame at 6-1, 215. Some feel for spin on SL/CB mix w/ low-effort. Good soph. to follow.#SALPAS23 https://t.co/H2nV8rhVVr pic.twitter.com/VinBdJH2pw

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) January 9, 2023

LHP/1B Jackson Stallworth (1/8/23)

The Mustangs have plenty of experience coming back to this year's roster and should once again be a strong ball club this spring. They will compete once again in Area 3 against Wetumpka, GW Carver-Montgomery, and Sidney Lanier for a spot in the Class 6A playoffs at the end of the season. Look for the Mustangs to once again be right back in the mix in Class 6A once the end of the year comes around in 2023.