Alabama High School Team Preview: Helena Huskies
January 8, 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: Helena High School
Classification: AHSAA 6A, Area 8
Positional Starters Returning: 5
Pitchers Returning: 8
Team Strengths: 13 seniors return who've been in program for 4 years, a lot of experience in the middle IF, 3B, C and numerous pitchers that have logged a lot of innings over the past few years. This team is one of the Huskies more athletic teams.
Team Weaknesses: Filling in some important holes due to graduation. Only one returning OF from last year and no experience back at 1B.
Top Returning Players:
Top 2021 Prospects:
2021 RHP/1B/OF Jack Freeman
Top 2022 Prospects:
Top 2023 and 2024 Prospects:
2024 RHP/1B Reece Mims
Outlook:
Enthusiasm and expectations abound for 2021 for the Helena Huskies, a program that is used to success on the diamond. There are 13 seniors returning for their 4th year in the program and experience abounds at most spots on the field. Although this is a very athletic team, there are a few holes where some newcomers will need to replace seniors lost from 2020. One of those returners is senior SS Brody Moss an Auburn signee. He is a 4 year starter on the varsityand will hit in middle of lineup everyday. He has led the team in every major offensive category the past 2 years. Senior 2B/RHP Landon Leake is a Southern Union signee and 4 year player. He can play multiple positions and is the leader of the infield while also being a possible area starter on mound. Another Southern Union signee is catcher Tyler Jon Santos. He is a 3 year starter, a leader on and off the field, and possess big time gap power in middle of lineup. Senior RHP/SS/2B Jacob Peters is yet another Southern Union signee on the Huskies roster. He was hurt last year but was 6-0 on the mound during his 10th grade year. His health will be a big key to the pitching staff this year. Peters is also a solid infielder who has improved as a hitter the past year. Junior 3B Mac Turner returns to the hot corner this year. He has been a starter since his 9th grade year and has big potential to be big RBI guy in middle of lineup. Turner has had a big jump physically in the last 6 months while also serving as QB1 for the Huskies on the gridiron. The centerfield position is in good hands with junior Ryan Storey, a South Alabama commit. The 5'10 180 pound left handed hitter is a 6.5 runner who should the OF this spring. He also brings gap to gap power with his speed offensively. Other seniors that should play a big role this year are:
2021 RHP Seth Gregory- He has not missed a start since his 10th grade year and is the most trusted arm on the staff. Look for a break out season for Gregory.
2021 RHP/1B/OF Jack Freeman- Was hurt most of the short season last year but started in area games as a 10th grader on the mound. The Huskies are hoping to have him full strength this spring.
2021 C Brock Sisson- He is a Lee University signee and brings added depth behind the plate and also has gap to gap pop with RBI potential offensively.
2021 RHP Gavin Daniel- He Gained a lot of experience on the mound last year and could potentially be a starter this year. He was the Huskies most trusted bullpen arm last year.
In addition to these seniors, some additional juniors to keep an eye on are RHP Logan Green, RHP/OF Mitchell Rhodes and LHP/OF Austin Collins. Green has seen his velocity jump to 84-87 mph and could be a top arm for Huskies this year while Rhodes is a promising arm who the coaches are hoping to log a lot of innings this spring. Collins is a left handed arm who could play a big role on the mound for the team this spring.
To wrap things up, there are a few underclassmen to keep an eye on this year and in the years ahead. Sophomore infielder Miles MItchell has potential to help on the infield this spring and bring some offensive depth to group. Freshman RHP/1B Reece Mims is a young arm that has been up to 83-84 mph who could possibly see innings at some point this year. No doubt, the Huskies should be in the mix in a loaded 6A classification in 2021.
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