Alabama HS Team Preview: Carroll Eagles
February 9, 2024
The 2024 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 the Jacksonville/Oxford/Montgomery area 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 rankings 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 ranks in each AHSAA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.
*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.
High School: Carroll Eagles
Head Coach: Will Carnley
Classification: AHSAA Class 5A
Area Number: Class 5A, Area 3
2023 Record (Finish): 15-12 (No Postseason)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Pitching, Defense, Experienced Returners
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- C Wells Ganey (2026)
- LHP/OF Bryce Coleman (2025; uncommitted)
- RHP/3B Kaden Baxter (2026)
- RHP/UTL Brodie Lowery (2026)
C Wells Ganey (5/28/23)
MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS
Class of 2024
- OF Jackson Skilbred (2024; uncommitted)
Class of 2025
- 1B Grant Houston (2025; uncommitted)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- RHP Parker Wimberley (2026)
TEAM OUTLOOK
The Carroll Eagles continue to take quality strides within their program and although the missed the Class 5A playoffs in 2023, they accumulated a winning record of 15-12 and will look to build on that this spring. There's plenty of experience coming back from last year's team this season, which should lead to excitement within their program in 2024.
The Eagles are slotted in a tough area in Class 5A with Headland, Rehobeth, and Charles Henderson, so they'll need to be playing their best baseball at the end of the regular season to have hopes making the postseason. They do, however, return a bunch of production from last year's team with six positional starters and six pitchers back for another season. Those particular players will be looking to lead the way this spring in addition to some newer faces who will look to step into larger roles this spring. C Wells Ganey (2026) is regarded as a top-40 prospect in the sophomore class in AL and returns as one of the top hitters this spring. As a freshman in 2023, the backstop hit an impressive .389 with 13 2B's, 3 3B's, and 2 HR's in the heart of their order in addition to his strong efforts behind the plate. LHP/OF Bryce Coleman (2025) is a two-way player looking to build off of last season's success where he compiled a 2.60 ERA with 25 K's in 31 IP as a sophomore, while RHP/3B Kaden Baxter (2026) and RHP/UTL Brodie Lowery (2026) are a pair of sophomores who are expected to step into larger roles. Baxter has some power at the plate to go along with a 2.70 ERA from last season, while Lowery should step into a starter's role after posting a 2.50 ERA in 2023. OF Jackson Skilbred (2024) and 1B Grant Houston (2025) are two more upperclassmen who are expected to contribute heavily offensively, while RHP Parker Wimberley (2026) should be one of their three main pitchers after posting a 3.50 ERA as a freshman last season.
The Eagles are looking to be a more experienced team this spring with some of last year's underclassmen having a year of playing time at the varsity level, which should only benefit their team. They'll compete in Area 3 against Headland, Rehobeth, and Charles Henderson for a berth in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Carroll looks to be gearing up for a strong season in Class 5A in 2024.
Find more information on the 2024 Carroll High School program below:
+ Follow them on X: @CHSEaglesBSB
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2024 HS Team Previews
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