Alabama High School Team Preview: Alexandria Valley Cubs
January 5, 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: Alexandria High School
Classification: AHSAA 5A Area 12
Positional Starters Returning: 4
Pitchers Returning: 3
Team Strengths: Team Defense and Pitching
Team Weaknesses: Youth at some spots will hamper us offensively as we bring the young kids along.
Top Returning Players:
2021 LHP Wesley Wright
2021 OF Austin West
2021 SS Sam Wade
Top 2021 Prospects:
Top 2022 Prospects:
2022 OF Canyon Mickler
Top 2023 Prospects:
Top 2024 Prospects:
2024 3B Ty Brown
Outlook:
In baseball, if you can pitch and defend that will keep you in most games. With that being said, the Alexandria Valley Cubs should have their share of success this spring. Leading the way on the mound this year will be LHP Wesley Wright. The 6'3 195 pound sophomore shows a loose, long arm and throws a heavy ball with run while commanding both sides of the plate. 2021 OF Austin West is an excellent athlete with speed and good pop at the plate. Senior shortstop Sam Wade is rangy defender that handles the bat well with a very advanced plate awareness and approach. 6'3 senior catcher Austin Jeffers shows solid defensive skills and is a staff leader in all aspects. Junior OF Canyon Mickler is a physical (6'2 195 lbs.) athlete with power to the pull-side. Sophomores to keep an eye on this year are OF Aaron Johnson, 2B/3B Seth Johnson, OF Deshaun Foster and C Tucker Kilgore. Aaron Johnson shows a solid approach at the plate and plays with a high baseball IQ while his twin brother Seth shows advanced defensive actions in the dirt. Foster is a rangy outfielder with a short compact swing that will produce power as he matures while Kilgore is a developing talent as a catcher and a gap to gap swing. Additionally, four freshmen are in line to contribute this year. Those sophomores are:
Evan Snow: Superior athlete who can play all 9 positions. Good hands and compact swing can hit to all fields with pop.
Tripp Patterson: Throws 3 pitches for a strike on both sides of the plate and is a very difficult left on left matchup.
Ty Brown: Talented glove and defensive skills who is developing talent at the plate.
Ian Cartwright: Advanced young hitter with a solid, powerful gap to gap approach.
The Valley Cubs, although fairly young, should put a quality product on the field day in and day out.
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