Alabama High School Team Preview: Springville Tigers
January 11, 2022
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: Springville Tigers
Coach’s Name: Jonathan Ford
Classification: AHSAA 6A
Area Number: 13
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3
Team Strengths: Good team speed and tough competitors.
Top Returning Players:
- LHP Brady Gillespie (2023)
- 3B Payne Bryan (2023)
- SS Ethan Davis (2022)
- 1B Jacob Neal (2022)
Top 2023 Prospects:
- MIF Zach Brown (2023)
- C Asa Morrison (2023)
Team Outlook
The Springville Tigers should be a competitive team in 2022 with some key players returning from last year's squad. The Tigers finished as the runner-up in a tough area last year, and reached the 2nd Round of the 6A State Playoffs before being defeated by Gardendale. They'll look to get back to the playoffs again this year and make an even deeper run.
There's a lot to be said about how important it is to have a pitcher returning with plenty of innings under his belt, and LHP Brady Gillespie is one of those arms that should be the ace for this staff in 2022. He uses all three pitches in his arsenal at any time, and fills up the zone with good movement on all three offerings. 3B Payne Bryan is a physical right-handed hitter with good instincts and gap-to-gap power at the plate. He returns to the heart of the order and should be one of the leaders offensively for this club. SS Ethan Davis is a senior who has been really reliable playing up the middle with smooth hands and an accurate arm. He's also proven to be a tough out at the plate, as well. 1B Jacob Neal is another one of those seniors returning for the Tigers that is one of the unquestioned leaders for this team. He's best described as an elite competitor that has a solid understanding for the game hitting in the middle of Springville's order.
Some other key pieces returning for this team in 2022 include MIF Zach Brown & C Asa Morrison. Brown is another solid middle infielder who can handle the bat well. Morrison has the ability to shut down opposing run games with his catch-and-throw skills, and is reliable with the bat, as well. The Tigers should continue to be contenders this year in Class 6A.
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