AL HS Team Preview: Cedar Bluff Tigers
February 13, 2020
High School: Cedar Bluff Tigers
2019 Record: 18-11
Head Coach: Jim Nelson
AHSAA Classification: 2A
AHSAA Area: Area 13
2019 Area Finish: 1st
2019 Playoff Run: Lost in quarterfinals
RETURNING STARTERS:
’20 SS/C Samuel Cosby
’20 RHP/CF Luke Hampton
’20 OF/LHP Trinton Clifton
‘20 UTIL/RHP Travon Clifton
OTHERS TO WATCH:
’21 1B/DH Corey Teague
’22 MIF/RHP Dakota Edmondson
’22 OF/C Preston Burt
TEAM STRENGTHS:
Senior Leadership
Offensive ability
5 seniors that have 3 year starting experience
Return 3 of top 4 hitters from 2019
OUTLOOK:
Cedar Bluff advanced to the state quarterfinals a year ago after winning the 2A Area 13 title. The Tigers enter the 2020 season with high expectations as five positional starters and six pitchers that saw time on the mound return this year. Coach Jim Nelson likes the offensive capability his time has but would like to see improvements from a defensive standpoint. Senior SS/C Samuel Cosby is a three-year starter and is an important utility player that played shortstop last year but may be the Tigers’ catcher this year. Cosby had a monster junior year as he hit .485 with 7 2B’s, 5 HR’s and 31 RBI’s. He was also 2-0 with 1 save on the mound. Senior RHP/CF Luke Hampton is also a three-year starter that returns for 2020. He is a solid center fielder and is a workhorse on the mound. In 2019 on the bump, he was 6-1 with a 1.13 ERA with 57 K’s in 55 2/3 innings pitched. He also hit .367 with 6 2B’s, 2 3B’s and 19 RBI’s. OF/LHP Trinton Clifton is another senior three-year starter that is a two- way guy for the Tigers. In 2019, he hit .418 with 4 2B’s, 4 3B’s, 1 HR and 31 RBI’s. He was also 2-0 on the mound as well. His twin brother, UTIL/RHP Travon Clifton spent most of his time in 2019 at 2B but also sees time at 3B and centerfield as well. He hit a robust .470 in 2019 with 9 2B’s and 31 RBI’s. Sophomore SS/RHP Jacob Burleson is a very athletic player that the Tigers greatly depend on. He plays middle infield and also pitches. He has a live arm on the mound with plus command. A few others to watch in 2020 are ’21 1B/DH Corey Teague, ’22 MIF/RHP Dakota Edmondson and ’22 OF/C Preston Burt. Teague is a strong, physical athlete that swings the bat with a lot of power. He will be looked on to be a run producer in 2020. Edmondson is a very nice runner and all of his pitches show a ton of movement on the mound. He hit .308 in limited action and was 3-3 with a 3.77 ERA with 45 K’s in 52 innings pitched last year. Burt saw limited action in 2019 but is an athletic outfielder and will only improve as he gains experience.
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