Alabama High School Team Preview: Scottsboro Wildcats
February 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: Scottsboro High School
Classification: AHSAA 6A Area 15
Positional Starters Returning: 6
Pitchers Returning: 2
Team Strengths: Talented pitching staff.
Team Weaknesses: Inexperience. Started five 10th graders in 2020.
Top Returning Players:
2021 1B/3B/RHP Camden Matthews
Top 2021 Prospects:
Top 2022 Prospects:
2022 OF Gavin McCrary
2022 OF/RHP Connor McLaughlin
Outlook:
The Scottsboro Wildcats will be competing in 6A in 2021 and like the depth of their pitching staff but they will also be dealing with some inexperience at some positions. As the season progresses those players should gain valuable experience for the back half of the season. One key returner is senior Marion Mility CC signee Camden Matthews. The 1B/3B/RHP features a quality fastball on the mound with a solid slider. He hit .350 hitter in 2020. and the Wildcats will be looking for even more production in the middle of the lineup in 2021. Senior C Ethan Wininger returns behind the plate in 2021 as he .456 last season and was the team leader in every offensive category. He had hits in 16 of 17 games played last year. Another senior that should be a major contributor this spring is OF/DH Sam Bryant. The 6'1 175 pounder should play amajor role in the team's offensive success this year. Several junior figure to have been impacts on the team in 2021. Those juniors are MIF/RHP Collin Perkins, OF Gavin McCrary, MIF Will Jones, SS/RHP Everett Loveless, 1B/OF/LHP Landon Grider and and OF/RHP Connor McLaughlin. Perkins fielded at a 1.000% clip a year ago for the Wildcats at 2B and looks to be a major part of the team's defense, pitching staff and offensive lineup. McCrary is a game changer in the outfield with big time speed and great instincts and a plus arm. He is a threat offensively that can bunt or drive balls in the gap. The 5'10 160 pound Jones is a plus defender and is an extremely tough out at the plate as he works counts deep in many AB's. Loveless features a mid 80's fastball on the mound with natural arm side action and will play major role in pitching staff this season. He is also a solid defender in the middle of the infield. Grider (6'1 180 lbs.) has the potential to be a big time hitter in the Cats lineup. He will be counted on as an arm to as he features a heavy fastball that sits low to mid 80's. McLaughlin will also be another quality arm the mound as he shows plus command on the fastball and secondary offerings. He is a ball hawk in the outfield. while showing a scrappy offensive approach that will put pressure on defenses. Keep an eye on the Cats in 6A Area 15 in 2021.
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