TN HS Team Preview: Signal Mountain Eagles
January 12, 2024
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 Tennessee.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at The Spring Fling as they compete for a state championship, 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 Tennessee. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing other pieces of content covering the Volunteer State.
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 Power 25 and much more.
*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: Signal Mountain High School
Head Coach: Josh Gandy
Classification: AAA
District + Region Number: District 6 + Region 3
2023 Record (Finish): 22-13
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 12
Team Strengths: Top of the Rotation and Pitching Depth. Experience.
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- P/OF Ben Timblin (2024, Wofford)
- P/SS Jake Edmonson (2024)
MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS
Class of 2024
- P/OF Ty Harper (2024)
- P/INF Barrett Anderson (2024)
- OF/P Blake Wolfard (2024)
Class of 2025
- INF/P Cash Keene (2025)
- P Carter Gayton (2025)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- OF/INF Bo Cooper
- P Luke Smiley
TEAM OUTLOOK
Signal Mountain put together a really strong season a year ago finishing with a 22-13 record and 2nd in district play behind East Hamilton, who seemed to have their number all season long. Going into regional play, the Eagles looked refreshed and prime to make a deep postseason run but would go on to lose two in a row to Lenoir City and then again to East Hamilton 3-4. Looking back, 3 out of 4 of those games against their rival came within 1 or 2 runs and just couldn't seem to get over the hump with the Hurricanes. This year on paper looks different, as the club returns 8 position starters and an absurd amount of arms with 12 total having varsity experience on the mound. The Eagles will be led on the mound and in the lineup by District 6-AAA player of the year and Wofford signee Ben Timblin. Behind Timblin will be a pair of senior uncommitted prospects in Jake Edmondson and Ty Harper. Both have flashed command and pitchability, especially in deep pressure games. Junior Carter Gayton has also thrown a lot of meaningful innings over the past two seasons and will push for a starting spot on the hill. Barrett Anderson is another arm that offers low to mid 80’s on the heater that will slide into a relief/closer role and can also spot start with the ability to command a slider for K’s. Luke Smiley is a sophomore that had several starts on the bump a season ago with a deep understanding on how to pitch. He is another arm that may work his way into the district play rotation for the Eagles. Offensenvily, the club brings back a large part of their lineup from 2023 with Ben Timblin back in the two hole followed by Jake Edmondson in the 3 hole spot. Barrett Anderson will slide back into the middle part of the order and most likely stick in the cleanup spot. Cash Keene, who started varsity as a freshman and offers a high IQ of the game, will man 3rd base and bat in the middle of the lineup. He also will relief innings and spot start at times. Physical prospect at 6 foot 4 and surprisingly athletic Blake Wolfard offers power at the plate and will slide somewhere in the middle of the lineup, while ‘26 class prospect and smaller stature Bo Cooper will handle 2nd base and will either bat near the top or bottom of the lineup, depending on which direction Coach Gandy goes. This year’s club offers a lot of varsity experience. Top end rotation and a deep plethora of arms looks to be the clubs strength and should propel them to lead District 6-AAA in 2024. Coach Gandy has multiple pieces to work with. He can mix and match with just about anyone in the lineup and on the hill. Look for the Eagles to make some noise this season and be strong contenders to advance past regionals with a chance at making the state tournament come May, expectations are high.
P/OF Ben Timblin
The former 2022 PBR Tennessee future game participant hit .481 on the season and finished 7-0 with an era of 0.62 on the mound. Offers mid to upper 80’s at times velocity, while showcasing speed in the outfield with 6.7 sixty times.
P/SS Jake Edmonson
Hit .320 with 6 doubles, 7 HRs and 33 RBI’s while pitching to a 2.69 era in 2023
Find more information on the 2024 Signal Mountain program below:
+ Follow them on X: @Signalbaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Tennessee Team Previews Page
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