The 2021 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. That excitement may be at an all-time high entering this high school season as the 2020 high school baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season during an offseason unlike any other and as always, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.

    Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Montgomery 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 in each AHSAA classification. 

 *Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

 

High School: Whitesburg Christian Academy

Classification: AHSAA 2A Area 14

Positional Starters Returning: 9

Pitchers Returning: 6

Team Strengths: All starting and relief pitchers from last year, should be much improved on defense. 

Team Weaknesses: Youth and Hitting, 2nd year of the program after having last season cut short. 

 

Top Returning Players:

2021 CF/RHP/SS Ben Cox 

2021 C/OF/RHP Will Blackstone 

2024 3B/RHP Evan Dodd 

2025 SS/RHP Luke Holbrook 

 

Top 2023 Prospects:

2023 1B/LHP Thomas Harmon 

2023 OF/LHP Sam Barnes 

2023 OF/RHP Jon David Looser 

Outlook: 

Whitesburg Christian Academy had their initial season in school history cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the Warriors welcome back their entire roster for their second season. The Warriors should be able to pitch and defend but will be looking for some guys to provide an offensive spark in 2021. Versatile senior Ben Cox (CF/RHP/SS) should be one of the leaders of the team. He will be moving to his more natural position of CF this year after playing SS a year ago. He will also be at the top of the pitching rotation as well. Offensively, he leads off and is a very instinctive baserunner. Another senior that returns in 2021 is C/OF/RHP Will Blackstone. He enters his second season as the team's starting catcher and is a leader behind the plate and manages the pitching staff well. Evan Dodd is 6'0 170 pound freshman that will play 3B when he is not pitching. He is a very solid 3B that moves very well. He will be the Warriors #3 arm on the mound and will also hit in the middle of the offensive lineup. Luke Holbrook is only in the eighth grade but he will be counted on in a big way in 2021. He will take over at SS this year and should be the team's top reliever out of the bullpen. Holbrook also shows a very high baseball IQ. Sophomore 1B/LHP Thomas Harmon will be the team's #2 arm while also playing a very solid 1B. He has made some progress at the plate and is looking for success with the bat this season. Sam Barnes is another sophomore looking for a big year in 2021. The OF/LHP shows a great deal of speed in the outfield and does a nice job tracking balls down and has nice arm strength. Barnes will hit in the 2 or 3 hole this year while also working to possibly be a relief pitcher as well. Jon David Looser had a solid freshman season in 2020 as he really emerged as a quality outfielder and releif pitcher. As a sophomore this year, look for Looser to throw some big innings for the Warriors. He does have some power with the bat. Although still young, the Warriors could be a fun group to wqtch this season. 

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