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Alabama HS Team Preview: Tuscaloosa County Wildcats

February 15, 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: Tuscaloosa County Wildcats
Head Coach: Nick Richardson
Classification: AHSAA Class 7A
Area Number: Class 7A, Area 5
2023 Record (Finish): 30-9 (No Postseason)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 2
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3
Team Strengths: Team Speed, Starting Pitching

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

LHP Spencer Nicholas (2/24/23)

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2024

LHP/INF Brayden Holman (8/28/22)

Class of 2025

  • RHP/INF Brady Jones (2025; uncommitted)
  • RHP/INF Tanner Bayles (2025; uncommitted)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

RHP/UTL Jashaun Moten (2/25/23)

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Tuscaloosa County Wildcats were one of the top teams in Class 7A last spring, amassing an impressive 30 wins during the regular season, but unfortunately missed out on the playoffs along with Hoover competing in the most difficult area in Alabama. It was a tough circumstance for the Wildcats, as the two representatives from their area reached the Final Four. This season, the Wildcats will look to finish the job and break into the playoffs in 2024.

The Wildcats will have to replace some key pieces from last year's team that graduated, but there's a group of talented players waiting in the wings to step into bigger roles and lead them to success in 2024. They believe they should be a fairly athletic team with good speed throughout their lineup while also starting pitching has a chance to be a positive for them. LHP Spencer Nicholas (Coastal Alabama-South CC, 2024) returns as the ace of the pitching staff after another big junior campaign and has plenty of innings at the varsity level under his belt. He probably won't "wow" you with overpowering stuff, but he misses bats and changes speeds very well. OF Rylee Pate (Bevill State CC, 2024) and RHP/OF Spencer Johnson (Bevill State CC, 2024) have a chance to be crucial pieces to their offensive success after strong junior seasons. Pate should hit near the top of the order, while Johnson should be behind him in the middle of the order looking to drive him in. RHP/INF Kole Nicholson (2025) is a prospect we got to see in the preseason and we're very impressed with his ability to drive the ball for power. He jumps out with impressive size and physicality, and has a chance to be a primary run-producer for the Wildcats this spring. INF Drew Keller (2025) and C/RHP Camden Barnett (2025) are two more returning juniors who are expected to have breakout junior campaigns, as well. Looking at some more upperclassmen who have a chance to make an impact, LHP/INF Brayden Holman (2024) and RHP Collin Dubose (Stillman College, 2024) are a pair of sophomores with the ability to do so, while RHP/INF Brady Jones (2025) and RHP/INF Tanner Bayles (2025) will also be looked upon for some solid contributions this spring. The Wildcats also feature a strong core of underclassmen, some of which who already have varsity experience from last season. Some freshman and sophomores to watch for this spring are LHP/1B Tate Pettus (2026), RHP/UTL Jashaun Moten (2026), RHP/INF Brooks Mellown (2026), RHP/INF Gibbs White (2027), RHP/INF Ryan Nichols (2027), LHP/OF Dillon Dubose (2027), RHP/OF Bryson Boyington (2027), RHP/INF Colson Mellown (2027), RHP/INF Wilson Patrick (2027), RHP/INF Kamdyn Stines (2027), and INF Levi Fowler (2027).

While the Wildcats are coming off a disappointing end to last season, there's plenty of optimism that they can have the same type of success this season with a strong amount of returners coming back and some other talented players looking to contribute. They'll compete in Area 5 against Hoover, Thompson, and Vestavia Hills for a berth in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Look for Tuscaloosa County to once again be a strong contender in Class 7A in 2024.

Find more information on the 2024 Tuscaloosa County program below:

+ Follow them on X: @TuscaloosaCoun1
+ 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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