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Alabama HS Team Preview: Headland Rams

February 14, 2024
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

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: Headland Rams
Head Coach: Brett Birdsong
Classification: AHSAA Class 5A
Area Number: Class 5A, Area 3
2023 Record (Finish): 26-9 (Eliminated in Elite Eight)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Team Strengths: Pitching, Shortstop, Outfield, Team Defense, Power

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

  • SS/RHP Evan Taylor (2024; Wallace-Dothan CC)
  • RHP/OF Trey Scott (2024; Coastal Alabama-North CC)
  • RHP/OF Logan Ivey (2024; uncommitted)
  • RHP/INF Bryce Gover (2025; uncommitted)
  • INF Waylon McGriff (2024; uncommitted)
  • RHP/UTL Mason Edwards (2024; uncommitted)
  • RHP/INF Bryant Bush (2025; uncommitted)
  • LHP Miles Brannon (2024; uncommitted)

SS/RHP Evan Taylor (7/11/23)

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2024

  • C Jayden Raybon (2024; uncommitted)
  • RHP/OF Caleb Dozier (2024; uncommitted)
  • OF Aaron Kirkland (2024; uncommitted)

Class of 2025

RHP/OF Wade Shelley (6/9/23)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

RHP/1B Wyatt Shelley (6/9/23)

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Headland Rams enter the 2024 season as one of the more talented teams in Class 5A and are coming off back-to-back seasons where they reached at the least the Elite 8. Starting off the season at No. 3 in our preseason top-10, the Rams look to be one of the favorites to reach the Class 5A State Championship, but there's still plenty of baseball to be played.

After winning their area in 2023, the Rams advanced to the Elite 8 by defeating Greenville and Sylacaugato set up an intriguing matchup against Holtville, the eventual Class 5A Champions. In a back-and-forth series, Hotlville was able to defeat the Rams in Game 3 to close their season with a 26-9 record. It's not where they wanted their season to end, but they'll be sure to use that exit as a motivation this spring. The Rams, who bring back five positional starters and five pitchers from last year's team, also have had a couple of impact transfers that are sure to play vital roles this spring. SS/RHP Evan Taylor (Wallace-Dothan CC, 2024) is an extremely talented shortstop and a high baseball IQ. Last spring as a junior, Taylor hit .330 with 5 2B's, HR, and 17 RBI's offensively and looks poised for an even better season this year. He should also be one of their top arms on the mound, as well. RHP/OF Trey Scott (Coastal Alabama-North CC, 2024) is one of the main leaders on this year's team and should hit in the middle of their order in addition to being one of their main arms on the mound. The senior posted a 5-2 record with a 1.55 ERA and accumulated 56 K's in 49.2 IP as a junior last season. RHP/OF Logan Ivey (2024) is another senior returner who looks to breakout after hitting .416 last season, while RHP/INF Bryce Gover (2025) is a talented two-way prospect who went 8-2 last season with a 1.25 ERA and 70 K's on the mound. He's added strength and looks ready for a big junior season. INF Waylon McGriff (2024), RHP/UTL Mason Edwards (2024), are RHP/INF Bryant Bush (2025) three more upperclassmen who have expectations of a strong season, while LHP Miles Brannon (2024) adds depth to their rotation and will be a solid option coming out of the bullpen. Two significant impact newcomers to this program are RHP/OF Wade Shelley (Auburn, 2025) and RHP/1B Wyatt Shelley (Auburn, 2026), both of which can hit for power and run their fastball into the low-90's on the mound. Wade is super twitchy and athletic, while Wyatt has some of the easiest power you'll see from the right side. They will be massive additions this spring while, C Jayden Raybon (2024), RHP/OF Caleb Dozier (2024), OF Aaron Kirkland (2024), C/OF Brody Elliott (2025), RHP/OF Brodie Burdeshaw (2025), and RHP/INF Martin Mitchell (2026) are all upperclassmen who should compete for playing time. Looking at some younger players in addition to Shelley, RHP/INF Collin Phillips (2026) has a chance to see some time on the mound this season, while RHP/UTL Ashton Trammell (2026), C Ryan Roland (2026), OF Tucker Doswell (2026), and RHP/INF Nicholas Boatwright (2028) should all have a chance to compete for roles this spring as sophomores.

The Rams certainly have one of the more talented rosters down in the Wiregrass area have to be one of the favorites in Class 5A this spring. They'll compete in Area 3 against Carroll, Rehobeth, and Charles Henderson for a berth in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Expect Headland to be one of the teams to watch in Class 5A in 2024.

Find more information on the 2024 Headland High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @HeadlandRamsBB
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2024 HS Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL ALABAMA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Alabama on X
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Facebook

 

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