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: Vincent Yellow Jackets
Head Coach: Timothy Junkins
Classification: AHSAA Class 2A
Area Number: Class 2A, Area 9
2023 Record (Finish): 30-7 (State Runner-Up)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Team Strengths: Pitching

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• RHP/SS Aiden Poe (2025; Air Force)
• C Camden Cobb (2024; uncommitted)
• INF/RHP Casen Fields (2025; uncommitted)
• OF/LHP Grayson Gulde (2025; uncommitted)
• UTL Ray Albright (2024; uncommitted)
• UTL Aiden Gasaway (2025; uncommitted)
• INF/RHP Mattson Davis (2024; uncommitted)

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MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2025

• 1B Ethan McElrath (2025; uncommitted)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

Class of 2027

• UTL/RHP Landon Archer (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Vincent Yellow Jackets enjoyed a historic season in 2023, making it to the state championship and finishing as the runner-up in Class 2A, but expectations are high once again this spring with numerous talented returners back on both sides of the ball. It was a story book season last season, but the goal this spring for the Yellow Jackets is to finish the job and hoist the Class 2A "Blue Map" at the end of the season.

The Yellow Jackets finished with an impressive 30-7 record last season, but came up one win short against Ariton from capturing the Class 2A State Championship. It was an incredible run to follow all season long, as they recorded notable series wins over Lexington, Collinsville, Whitesburg Christian, and Lindsay Lane Christian in the playoffs to reach Jacksonville, AL. Just like last season, pitching should once again be one of their main team strengths with five quality arms coming back, but they also return seven positional starters on the offensive side, as well. RHP/SS Aiden Poe (Air Force, 2025) arguably had the most impressive season out of any pitcher in Alabama last spring, as he recorded 123 strikeouts while only walking a grand total of three batters, yes, three batters, and compiled an ERA of 0.85 in the process. He should continue to dominate on the mound this season, and is also an important offensive piece for the Yellow Jackets. C Camden Cobb (2024) also enjoyed a stellar junior campaign last season, and is regarded as one of the top uncommitted backstops in the 2024 class in AL. He is a stellar defensive catcher and also hit .400 in the middle of their order last season. INF/RHP Casen Fields (2025) is an athletic, versatile player who played a big role in last season's success. The junior should be a spark plug in the leadoff spot and is an excellent baserunner, as well. He looks poised for another strong spring, while OF/LHP Grayson Gulde (2025) should be their No. 2 arm in the pitching rotation just like last season. The southpaw posted a 6-2 record with a 1.98 ERA on the mound, and delivered some big hits at the plate, as well. UTL Ray Albright (2024), UTL Aiden Gasaway (2025), and INF/RHP Mattson Davis (2024) are three more upperclassmen returners who play solid roles last year as starters should only continue to improve this spring. A couple other players to watch for this spring are 1B Ethan McElrath (2025) and UTL/RHP Landon Archer (2027). McElrath should slide from the designated hitter spot to first base this spring, while Archer had a great summer and should throw meaningful innings on the mound.

With the Yellow Jackets returning plenty of starters on both sides from last year, the goal should once again be one of the last two teams standing in Class 2A going into the final week of the playoffs. They'll compete in Area 9 against Fayetteville, BB Comer, and Westminster-Oak Mountan for a berth in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Expect Vincent to once again be one of the favorites in Class 2A in 2024.

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

+ Follow them on X: @VMHSJacketsBB
+ 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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