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: Sweet Water Bulldogs
Head Coach: Dawson Turberville
Classification: AHSAA Class 1A
Area Number: Class 1A, Area 4
2023 Record (Finish): 17-12 (Eliminated in Elite Eight)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Team Speed, Team Defense 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• RHP/3B David Etheridge (2024; uncommitted)
• INF Parker Townsend (2024; uncommitted)
• OF Payton Averette (2024; uncommitted)
• RHP/1B Maddox Henson (2024; uncommitted)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• OF/RHP Ethan Carr (2027)
• RHP/3B Jordan McManus (2027)
• RHP/INF Sammie Walker (2027)
• 1B Brayden Norris (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Sweet Water Bulldogs enter the season hoping to continue their streak of deep playoff runs in Class 1A over the past decade or so. The Bulldogs have turned into a consistent powerhouse at the Class 1A level and this year looks like it's shaping up to be another strong season. With a host of returners coming back on both sides of the ball, the Bulldogs have a good of a chance on paper as anyone to reach the Class 1A State Finals in 2024.

The Bulldogs capped off yet another successful spring season with an Elite 8 appearance in 2023, falling to the hands of Brantley, the eventual runner-up in Class 1A. Sweet Water, however, looks primed for another deep run again this season with hopes of busting down the door and reaching the state finals with seven positional starters and four pitchers returning this spring. The Bulldogs look to be a very athletic team with good overall team speed and believes team defense should be another one of their strengths. Starting at the top, RHP/3B David Etheridge (2024) is one of the many returning seniors on this roster who is expected to lead the way once again this season. INF Parker Townsend (2024) is a switch-hitter that returns to the heart of the order, while other seniors like OF Payton Averette (2024) and RHP/1B Maddox Henson (2024) should provide valuable contributions as returners, as well. There's a good crop of underclassmen for the Bulldogs, as well, as OF/RHP Ethan Carr (2027), RHP/3B Jordan McManus (2027), RHP/INF Sammie Walker (2027), and 1B Brayden Norris (2027) are all freshman who have a chance to make an impact at the varsity level at a young age. 

The Bulldogs look to have a strong core of returners coming back this spring, while also looking to some younger players to step into bigger roles in order for them to have success in 2024. They'll compete in Area 4 against Choctaw County, Linden, and Marengo at the end of the regular season for a berth in the playoffs. There's still tons of baseball to be played, but expect Sweet Water to be a strong contender in Class 1A once again in 2024.

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Find more information on the 2024 Sweet Water program below:

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

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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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