Alabama High School Team Preview: Grissom Tigers
January 26, 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: Grissom High School
Classification: AHSAA 7A Area 7
Positional Starters Returning: 5
Pitchers Returning: 5
Team Strengths: Pitching Depth
Team Weaknesses: Consistency at the plate
Top Returning Players:
2021 1B/RHP John Allen Stogner
Top 2021 Prospects:
Top 2022 Prospects:
2022 RHP Logan Davis
Top 2023 and 2024 Prospects:
Outlook:
The Tigers figure to be in the thick of things in 7A Area 7 in 2021 as they will depend heavily on a quality pitching staff that has logged a fair amount of innings over the last two years. While the Tigers should be able to limit scoring opportunites of their opponents, this group will be looking to improve their own offensive consistency as the 2021 season unfolds. Senior OF/1B/LHP Dillon Cook looks to have a big senior season after missing parts of the past two years. The Troy signee has a rare combination of size and strength. He will be a middle of the order that will be counted on to be a major run producer this season. He is also one of a few top line arms the Tigers will depend on as he shows a fastball in the mid 80's. Senior 1B/RHP Will Varmette is another high quality arm that will log a ton of innings in 2021. The "stuff" is lights out and he has the ability to be dominant. His fastball has some late life and will sit upper 80's and bump 90 mph on occasion. Varmette is a Wallace Hanceville CC signee. Another RHP that is headed to Wallace Hanceville CC is senior John Allen Stogner. The athletic RHP/OF is yet another talented arm for the Tigers. Similar to Varmette, Stogner has a live fastball that will sit in the upper 80's and touch a few 90's. He is also a talented outfielder that shows some power from the left side at the plate. Junior MIF Jack Carson is another returning starter that may be the team's best infielder. At the plate, he provides the Tigers with someone who can hit, bunt and control the bat in situations. Physical junior OF/RHP Christian Sutphin returns after starting as a sophomore. He was teh Tigers best hitter a year ago as a sophomre and will be a middle of the order bat. Look for Sutphin to see time on the mound as well. Senior MIF Noah Lam returns for the Tigers as he and Carson give Grissom a nice double play combination up the middle. The Snead State CC signee has sneaky pop at the plate and will provide some extra base hits in 2021. Two additional seniors that are expected to contribute in a big way this year are LHP Evan Steckmesser and OF Cannon Raby. Steckmesser was the team's best pitcher as a sophomore but missed last season due to injury. He shows a low to mid 80's fastball and can command three quality pitches. Everyone associated with the Grissom program will be glad to see the southpaw back on the mound this year. Raby (Martin Methodist signee) has a high baseball IQ. He also runs very well and is a solid defensive outfielder. Additionally, two junior pitchers will add quality depth on the mound. Junior RHP Logan Davis has a live arm, sitting mid 80's and touching 88 a few times in the fall from a physical frame (6'2 210 lbs.). 2022 LHP/OF Rynzo Crutcher is another arm that will see time on the mound. The southpaw shows solid arm side action on his fastball in the low 80's. Crutcher will also push for playing time in the outfield.
Three talented sophomores are in line to contribute in 2021 as well. They are:
2023 C/MIF/RHP Ty Sanderson- Super utility guy for the Tigers that does a ton of things well. He will start at catcher this season as his offensive production has really improved.
2023 3B Chris Lynam- The 6 foot 200 pounder saw some varsity time as a freshman a year ago and should be a middle of the order bat this season. He shows a very mature approach for a hitter his age.
2023 MIF/RHP Ian Lee- The sophomore right hander will compete for some varsity innings. He features a fastball 80-82 mph and is a big time competitor. On the mound he shows legit command and simply attacks hitters.
It is easy to see why there is a lot of optimism around the Grissom Tigers as the 2021 season gets closer.
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