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The 2022 TN high school season is less than a week away! Teams across the state are making the final touches and prepping for the Spring campaign. With season around the corner, the PBR TN Preseason Power 25 Rankings returns for our second season highlighting the top clubs to and Spring Fling hopefuls. Of the 25 programs featured in the 2021 preseason rankings, 12 of them reached the state tournament: #1 Baylor, #2 Farragut, #3 CAK, #4 Beech, #5 CPA, #8 Briarcrest, #16 Siegel, #19 Clarksville, #20 McCallie, #21 Science Hill, #23 McMinn County, and #24 Pigeon Forge. Three of those clubs walked away state champions (Baylor, CPA, & Science Hill) and two finished runner up (Briarcrest & Pigeon Forge). This year will hopefully be more of the same, littered with teams making serious postseason runs in 2022. The Power 25 is determined by returning prospects, season outlook, and building off last season for teams from all classifications. 

We'll continue to update this list throughout the season and expand our coverage with the TN Preseason Class Rankings coming out on opening day (March 14th). Be sure to stay tuned as we continue releasing the PBR TN Top 100 and Team Previews to provide top notch coverage of high school teams and prospects. For the Power 25, let's get started with no. 21-25....

Preseason Power 25 Rankings

No. 21-25

 

No. 16-20

No. 20 Pigeon Forge (Last year: 33-6 | 2A)
The Tigers were frequently at the top of the 2A class rankings last season and rightfully so after starting 12-0 and being 20-1 before dropping a district matchup with Gibbs. Little did we know there would be three more matchups with the Eagles in the postseason. PF defeated Gibbs to take the district tourney title and Gibbs would win the region championship game sending the Tigers on the road for sub-state. They'd matchup with Sullivan South in a very emotional game due to it ultimately being the Rebels final game as a school; however, PF prevailed 6-2 and to lock up back-to-back state tourney appearances. They tossed two shutouts to open the Spring Fling and would see Nolensville again. Nolensville won game one 18-5 to force a win or go home in game two. The Tigers had to use one of their best arms to win and reach the championship for a fifth matchup with district foe Gibbs. Unfortunately for them, the Eagles would take the decisive game five of their series and bring home the state title. Looking ahead, Pigeon Forge will return both their aces with '23 LHP/OF Dylan Loy (Tennessee Commit) and '22 RHP/1B Riley Franklin (ETSU Commit). Both feature FBs in the upper 80s with sharp breaking balls after logging a lot of key innings in 2021 plus they both contribute in the middle of the order offensively. '22 3B Bryce Effler returns after handling the hot corner and table setter role at the top of the order. '23 MINF Tyson McFall was plugged in at shortstop and also saw some innings on the mound behind the big two. '22 Holt Hensley served mainly as the DH last season and should continue to be a steady contributor with a few positions opening up from last years team. Pigeon Forge opened as the number one 2A team in 2021 and many will consider them the favorites in 2022, but their sights are set on bringing back their first state since 2013.

 

No. 19 Northpoint Christian (Last year: 34-9 | D2-A)
Northpoint Christian may be a Mississippi club, but they play in the TSSAA and last season they made a lot of noise. They won their district and battled through the West Region, leading to a three game series with Knoxville Webb. After dropping the first game, the Trojans took the next two to clinch a spot in the final four. After dropping a 7-5 contest to CPA, they battled through the losers bracket for a rematch with CPA in the title game. Trailing 12-6 heading into the last frame, the Trojans battled all the way back to make it a one run game with the bases loaded, but they couldn't come up with one more hit and finished the year as D2-A runner ups. They'll return '22 RHP/SS James Smith (Ole Miss Commit), who was lights out as a two-way earning PBR TN All-State honors. He features a FB up to 92 and offensive production machine in the three hole. Protecting him again will be '23 1B/RHP Hudson Brown (Kentucky Commit), who is a big, physical bat that can really slug after appearing at PBR Future Games this summer. '23 RHP/3B JB Williams and '23 LHP/UTL Conner McKnatt return after being consistent contributors during their 2021 run. '23 INF Rob Hayes also played multiple positions and cleaned up behind the middle of the order. A group that really swung it last year and have a bonafide ace bodes well heading into the 2022 season.

 

No. 18 Clarksville (Last year: 33-7 | 4A)
The Wildcats swept the district in 2021 going 16-0 in the regular season then crushing in the district tourney. Their region semifinal game vs Mt. Juliet might be an all time classic as it went into extras at 1-1 before Kyle Magrans crushed a walk off bomb to extend the season. They went on the road for sub-state and defeated Independence to reach the state tournament before going 1-2 at the Spring Fling to cap the season. They had a very deep senior class graduate in 2021, but they'll have several keys guys back for 2022 and look to be the favorites for their district. They'll return '22 RHP Brody Lanham (Austin Peay Commit), who worked his way into the ace role last year and posted enormous stats on the bump. '22 RHP Ryan Murphy (LMU Commit) was utilized in a swing role, and he's continued to improve with expectations of slotting as the number two. '22 RHP Bennett Mobley tossed a few scoreless frame in the state tourney, and he'll be another veteran arm in the mix. Positionally, they'll need to replace a ton from last season as they basically graduated the entire lineup. '23 INF/OF Gavin Dufault has shown to be a solid piece to help plug a hole. '23 1B Carson Sanders flashed some big boy pop at the Preseason All State, and he could be a nice option at 1B. '25 OF/RHP Kirk Weatherford looks to be a promising freshman, who can be a contributor once he gets back up to speed from basketball. '22 LHP Zachary Faerber can pound the zone and keep bats honest. There are certainly big roles to fill, but the veteran leadership along and the ability to play clean baseball will be a bright point for their 2022 journey. 

 

No. 17 Independence (Last year: 23-12 | 4A)
The Eagles had a rough skid in April going 6-8 for the month, dropping several tight games, but they got it turned around and won out the district tournament. They rolled through the region games into sub-state, but ran into a tough Clarksville club, who rallied late to end their season with a 7-5 loss. Independence had some losses, but they'll return a solid senior core and depth on the mound. '22 SS Logan Molnar (Austin Peay Commit) and '22 C Grant Morgan (Uncommitted) return to the middle of the order to lead the offense. '22 LHP Cooper Hargrove (Trevecca Commit) was an extremely reliable arm, who can really pitch it and throw strikes. '23 LHP Ben Cleaver (Kentucky Commit) really climbed his stock this offseason and he'll look to be a quality high level arm. '23 2B/RHP Ty Allen was a consistent two-way contributor last year, who has athleticism and been in the mid 80s. '23 1B Drew Blalock has really improved and flashed some big time power potential. We've seen '22 RHP Breck Langan in the mid 80s on the mound and could be another veteran alongside Hargrove. '23 RHP/OF Nick McLaughlin and '23 LHP Judah Hernandez are intriguing pieces to contribute. '24 3B Logan Money and '24 3B/RHP Mark Harrell have continued to develop after they freshman campaigns. Like always, Indy will play a very challenging district schedule and they'll have quite a bit of depth that will play out as the season goes. 

 

No. 16 Hardin County (Last year: 29-8 | 3A) 
The Tigers worked their way through 3A district 13 and after dropping both games of the district tourney championship, they went on quite a run the rest of the way. They swept the region games and hosted Collierville for sub state, winning 3-0 and making a state tournament appearance for the first time in 38 years. Once at the Spring Fling, a combination of quality pitching, defense, and timely hitting allowed them to reach the title game, where an early deficit to Science Hill was too much to overcome, falling 9-5 to close out the year. They'll return a crucial triumvirate of seniors in 2022 with SS/RHP Cooper Clapp (Notre Dame Commit), RHP/UTL Seth Garner (Memphis Commit), and UTL Jace Littlefield (Uncommitted). Clapp is exceptional at SS, swings a smooth lefty stick, and even pitched big games during their run. Garner can impact games both ways as the ace on the mound with upper 80s stuff and middle of the order bat. Littlefield can play left side of the infield and all outfield positions while showing good athleticism and pop in the barrel. '24 SS/RHP Duke Samples got some valuable time last year as a freshman and he'll look to contribute up the middle and on the bump. '24 RHP/INF Stryder Jones could be a big boost in his sophomore campaign, especially on the bump. They'll have a young freshman group that watched the postseason magic with '25 INF/RHP Ryder Harville, '25 C Ean Stanley, and '25 INF Cannon Clapp. The Tigers have some pieces to replace, but they should be a heavy contender in the new look 3A, especially with high end players that have proven to take over games.

 

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