Alabama High School Team Preview: Ardmore Tigers

The 2022 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, 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 keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each AHSAA classification as well as a Power 25. One thing that you especially don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state as well as recaps and previews of big games across the state.  

*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 Name: Ardmore Tigers

Coach’s Name: Andrew Smith

Classification: AHSAA 5A 

Area Number: Area 16 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 3 

Team Strengths: Leadership & Experience 

Top Returning Players:

• 1B/RHP Mason Billions (2022)
• OF Drew Daly (2022)
• MIF/RHP Nathan Embrey (2022)
• RHP/3B Bryce Camp (2022)

Team Outlook

The Ardmore Tigers are coming off a successful season in 2021 where the made the 5A State Playoffs and advanced to the 2nd round before being eliminated by Alexandria in a three-game series. This year, the Tigers have a few pieces from that team coming back, including some middle-of-the-order hitters and a few pitchers who saw time on the mound.

After finishing as the runner-up in their area, the Tigers went on the road last spring and swept their 1st round opponent in fairly convincing fashion. In order for them to have that same success again this year, they'll need to have some guys step up and fill the void left by the seniors that graduated last spring. 1B/RHP Mason Billions is a physical left-handed hitter that's been in the middle of the lineup for the past several years. A senior now, Billions led the team last spring with 37 RBI's while bringing a strong presence to the plate. He'll be one that'll be called upon for the same type of production as last year in order for this team to be successful. OF Drew Daly is another senior, like Billions, who returns to the top of the lineup this spring. Daly hit leadoff last spring and posted a .331 batting average and scored 38 times in the process. After making the move to catcher, MIF/RHP Nathan Embrey should slide back to a spot on the infield this spring for the Tigers. He's another key piece that Ardmore will depend on in 2022. On the mound, RHP/3B Bryce Camp brings back the most experience on the mound, as he led the team in innings pitched with 55 innings under his belt. He also held opposing hitters to a minuscule .190 batting average. 

Although the Tigers lost some seniors from last year, including LHP Cole Cheatham who is now pitching at Mississippi State, this year's team is shaping up to be a competitive club. Keep an eye out for the Tigers this spring, as they'll look to make another run through the Class 5A State Playoffs.

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