Alabama High School Team Preview: Oak Mountain Eagles
January 4, 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: Oak Mountain
Classification: AHSAA 7A, Area 5
Positional Starters Returning: 4
Pitchers Returning: 8
Team Strengths: Pitching depth, 13 seniors, team athleticism.
Team Weaknesses: A lot of new people in new places this year, inexperience from not completing the 2020 season, young catchers.
Top Returning Players:
2021 SS Mitchell Pierce
Top 2021 Prospects:
Top 2022 Prospects:
Top 2023 and 2024 Prospects:
Outlook:
The Eagles enter the 2021 season with optimism as 13 seniors lead the team and several of those seniors should help lead an experienced pitching staff in a rugged 7A Area 5 race with Tuscaloosa County, Hoover and Thompson. One of those senior pitchers is 6'3 200 pound RHP Stone Evers who has logged some quality innings in the past and this year should be no different. The senior has continued to progress which includes an increase in velocity. Stepehen Moraski is another senior that will be counted on in a two way role as a RHP and OF. On the mound, Moraski (signed with Kaskaskia College) shows advanced command of all pitches and a FB that reaches the upper 80's. Defensively, he shows a ton of range in the outfield. Senior RHP Connor Adams (Birmingham Southern signee) is another quality arm that shows movement on every pitch from a 3/4 arm slot that is very deceiving to hitters. 2021 RHP/1B Drew Rowland (6'3 205) showed great command during his junior year but has added velocity in the offseason and has been up to 87 mph and could be a key performer on the mound and at 1B. Another of those 13 seniors, SS Mitchell Pierce, is very athletic and shows advanced defensive actions and should be a leader among the group. Junior 3B Davis Gillespie (Southern Miss commit) has continued to progress over the years and has turned into a complete baseball player. Gillepsie can make all of the plays at 3B and has incredible power to all fields at the plate. Another junior, 3B/DH Andrew Hunt, is another big time junior bat for the Eagles and head coach Derek Irons says he is "set to have a breakout season" after DH'ing some as a sophomore a year ago. A couple of sophomores will also play integral roles for the Eagles this year. One of those is 6'2 LHP Matthew Heiberger who has progressed well over the last year and now showcases a FB in the upper 80's with complimentary secondary stuff. Heiberger has already received scholarship offers from several SEC powers. Catching Heiberger and the other pitchers will be 5'11 185 pound sophomore Carter Kimbrell. The 2023 grad is a legitimate big time catching prospect and doubles as a big time bat from the left side as well. Look for the Eagles to be in the thick of a challenging area race in 7A Area 5.
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