Alabama High School Team Preview: Saint Clair County Saints
February 1, 2021
The 2021 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. That excitement may be at an all-time high entering this high school season as the 2020 high school baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season during an offseason unlike any other and as always, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Montgomery 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 note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.
High School: St Clair County High School
Classification: AHSAA 5A Area 11
Positional Starters Returning: 7
Pitchers Returning: 5
Team Strengths: Pitching
Team Weaknesses: Hitting
Top Returning Players:
2021 OF/RHP Jonathan Finch
Top 2022 Prospects:
2022 OF Jackson Lindsey
Top 2023 and 2024 Prospects:
2023 SS Sawyer Motes
2023 RHP Jordan Stephenson
2024 OF Logan Knowles
Outlook:
Seven positional starters and five pitchers that saw time on the mound a year ago return for the Saints in 2021. The pitching depth on the team should be a strength of the team as the Saints will be looking for some players to help with offensive productivity this spring. One senior returner is senior catcher Luke Fondren. The 6'2 190 pounder Marion Military CC signee should definitely be one of the leaders for the team this season. Fondren shows solid catch and throw skills behind the plate and should also be a run producing bat in the everyday lineup. Senior RHP/SS Jackson Bryant returns for his senior campaign and will be an integral part of any success that the Saints have. The right hander will be a vital member of the pitching staff and will also be counted on to be an everyday infielder while providing an offensive spark. Bryant is a Rust College signee as is OF/RHP Jonathan Finch. Finch is a 5'10 160 pounder that will also be counted on in a two way role for the 2021 season. The speedy outfielder will once again be counted on in the outfield as he does a nice job covering ground on balls off the bat. Finch is also a quality arm on the mound that has a knack of keepiing hitters off balance. Much like Finch, senior OF/RHP Dalton Birchfield will be a vital Saint on the mound and in the outfield. He should pitch some faitly important innings this season when he is not mannning an outfield spot. Junior OF Jackson Lindsey also brings back a solid offensive approach at the plate and yet another quality outfielder. He led the team in batting average as a freshman and shows a short, compact swing from the left side and has above average speed. Two sophomores to keep an eye on are SS Sawyer Motes and RHP Jordan Stephenson. Motes can play anywhere in the infield and has been dubbed a "Swiss Army knife" for the team and led the Saints in batting average last season. Stephenson (6'3 185 lbs.) has solid potential on the mound with long arms, creating nice extension off the mound while showing solid command of 3 pitches. Freshman OF Logan Knowles is another promising young player. The 2024 grad has above average speed and a strong arm from the outfield. The Saints have every reason to be excited for the 2021 season.
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