AL HS Team Preview: New Hope Indians

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: New Hope Indians 

Coach’s Name: Andrew Dennis 

Classification: AHSAA 4A 

2022 Record: 13-13

Area Number: Class 4A, Area 13 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 5 

Team Strengths: Defense, Speed in the OF, Return all of INF and C, Offensive Experience

Top Returning Players:

• 1B Preston Lewis (2023)
• C Charlie Harbin (2024) 
• SS/RHP Dawson Cambron (2025)

Top 2023 Prospects:

• INF/RHP Eathan Sumner (2023)
• INF Nathan Adcock (2023)

Top 2024 Prospects:

• OF Colby Hall (2024)
• LHP/OF Riley Schutte (2024)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• INF/RHP Andrew Dudley (2025)
• INF/RHP Grant Maples (2025)
• OF/RHP Layton Pohl (2026)
• OF/RHP Xavion Drake (2027)

Team Outlook

The 2023 version of the New Hope Indians returns the bulk of their offensive lineup and their top arm in the rotation that led them to a 13-13 record last year. They'll look to make it to the Class 4A playoffs after just missing out last year placing third in their area standings. With most of the offensive production coming back, there are high hopes for the Indians to be competitive in Class 4A once again.

The Indians will once again be a talented ball club this spring with seven positional starters and five pitchers returning with an extra year of experience under their belt. Defense should be one of their strengths this year, as the Indians return their whole infield, catcher and an outfielder from last year's team that saw some success. 1B Preston Lewis (2023) fits the mold of a middle-of-the-order hitter, coming in at 6-foot-4, 245-pounds with big pull-side power that he's shown at multiple events over the past year. Last year, Lewis belted five home runs in his junior campaign and is looking for an even bigger season this year.

‘23 1B Preston Lewis (@Preston_Lewis_; @NewHopeHSBaseb1) showing immense gap-to-gap power using a physical 6-4, 245-pound frame.

Heavy barrel from left side producing a 100.2 mph EV & 388 ft. max distance during his BP round.#ALTNUnsigned || @PBR_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/s9slOwUfS0

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) November 6, 2022

1B Preston Lewis (11/6/22)

Another power bat packed in the middle of the Indians' lineup will be C Charlie Harbin (2024), who was their area's POTY last year after hitting .448 and only striking out nine times. He also does an excellent job handling the pitching staff for New Hope and has the ability to shut down the opponent's running game. SS/RHP Dawson Cambron (2025), a Top-35 prospect in the sophomore class, returns as the No. 1 arm on this pitching staff after striking out 56 hitters in just 30.1 innings pitched last spring. He will also be the Indians' starting shortstop when he's not on the mound and will be asked to be one of the leading hitters in the middle of the order, as well.

‘25 SS/RHP Dawson Cambron (@DawsonCambron; @NewHopeHSBaseb1) is a freshman playing a vital role for the Indians, hitting out of the leadoff spot while also turning in quality innings on the bump. Proportional strength and solid athleticism, definite follow moving forward. pic.twitter.com/IA3gn8joOO

— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) March 24, 2022

SS/RHP Dawson Cambron (3/23/22)

The Indians also have a few more returners that will be asked to play bigger roles this spring. INF/RHP Eathan Sumner (2023) and INF Nathan Adcock (2023) are a pair of senior infielders that have taken on leadership roles this year and will be big pieces for New Hope. Sumner should hit in the middle of the order and log some important innings on the mound, while Adcock is looking for a big senior year after only getting better in each game he played in last year. LHP/OF Riley Schutte (2024) is a move-in from Iowa that will really help replace the innings lost from last year's team. He has good command of a three-pitch mix and will compete on the mound. OF Colby Hall (2024) is another junior that has tons of speed in the outfield and can "go get it". INF/RHP Andrew Dudley (2025), INF/RHP Grant Maples (2025), OF/RHP Layton Pohl (2026) and OF/RHP Xavion Drake (2027) are all underclassmen that should all see playing time and have significant roles for this team, as well. 

New Hope certainly has the experience and pieces coming back to have another successful season in 2023. The Indians are slotted in a five-team area in Class 4A with Madison County, Randolph, St. John Paul II Catholic and Westminster Christian Academy. It's a tough area with only two from that area making the Class 4A playoffs, but the Indians will definitely be one to watch once the end of the season comes around this year.