Meet the 22 best high school baseball players in the Mobile area for 2025

St. Paul’s vs Elberta Playoff Baseball

St. Paul’s John Stowers swings at a pitch during a preps baseball game, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com

Class 5A runner-up St. Paul’s placed three players on the 2025 Coastal Alabama Baseball Terrific 22.

Catcher John Stowers and infielders Brooks McDonald and Edward McLeod powered the Saints to a 28-10-1 record and an appearance against eventual champ American Christian in the finals in Jacksonville.

Related: Meet the 2025 All-State baseball team

The Terrific 22 honors the top players in the Mobile area regardless of class, position or school year.

This year, 13 schools had at least one player named to the top 22. Bayshore Christian, Spanish Fort, Mobile Christian, Elberta, Fairhope, Leroy and Saraland had two each.

The Terrific 22 was selected by the AL.com sports staff with nominations and input from coaches. It includes players from Mobile and Baldwin Counties as well as the four counties that border Mobile and Baldwin (Escambia, Monroe, Clarke and Washington).

Elberta’s Owen Davis was named Coastal Coach of the Year after leading the Warriors to the 5A semifinals.

Here is the 2025 Press-Register Terrific 22:

Diego Bryant, P/IF, Thomasville, Sr.

Bryant hit .525 with 22 RBIs and 23 runs scored in just 59 at-bats. He was a first-team Class 3A All-State selection.

Nate Crooms, P/IF, Bayshore Christian, Sr.

Crooms hit .422 with 6 doubles, 20 RBIs and 25 runs scored. He was a first-team 2A All-State selection.

Cole Dean, P/IF, Bayside Academy, Sr.

The South Alabama signee hit .480 with 7 home runs, 16 doubles, 31 RBIs and 37 runs scored. He was 3-0 on the mound with a 2.83 ERA. He was a first-team 4A All-State selection at DH.

Newton Gardner, P/IF, Spanish Fort, Sr.

Gardner hit .303 with 5 homers, 4 doubles, 24 RBIs and 20 runs scored. He was 15-of-17 in stolen base opportunities. On the mound, he was 9-3 with a 1.72 ERA with a pair of shutouts.

Damien Gatson, OF, Mobile Christian, Sr.

The South Alabama signee hit .321 and was a perfect 23-of-23 on stolen bases. He also scored 24 runs.

Brady Harrison, P/OF, Elberta, Sr.

Harrison helped the Warriors to the state semifinals for the first time in school history. The first-team Class 5A All-State pitcher went 12-2 on the mound with a 0.49 ERA and 88 strikeouts. At the plate, he hit .320 with 36 runs scored and 16 stolen bases.

Miles Drew Johnson, P/IF, Fairhope, Sr.

Johnson went 4-2 on the mound for the Pirates with a save in leading the team to the 7A semifinals. He hit .286 at the plate in 73 at-bats.

Brady Keith, IF, Leroy, Sr.

The first-team All-State selection powered the Bears into the 1A finals. He hit .432 with 16 doubles, 57 RBIs and 58 runs scored. He stole 22 of 24 bases.

Jack Malone, P/IF, Bayshore Christian, Sr.

Malone hit .451 with 4 homers, 10 doubles, 23 RBIs and 21 runs scored. He was a first-team 2A All-State selection.

Brooks McDonald, IF, St. Paul’s, Sr.

McDonald hit .354 with 4 homers, 10 doubles and 27 RBIs. He homered in both the state semifinals and finals. He was a first-team All-State selection as a DH.

Edward McLeod, IF, St. Paul’s, Sr.

Another 5A All-State selection, McLeod hit .341 with 5 homers, 11 doubles, 36 RBIs and 36 runs scored.

Santae McWilliams, OF, Saraland, Sr.

The Spartans’ leadoff man hit .435 with 29 runs scored. He also stole 26 bases and was a first-team Class 6A All-State selection.

Jeremy Mehennett, C, St. Luke’s, Jr.

Mehennett hit .443 for the Wildcats with 11 doubles, 33 RBIs and 18 runs scored.

Jacob O’Bryan, IF, Gulf Shores, Jr.

O’Bryan hit .425 with 8 doubles, 44 runs scored and 23 RBIs. He also was 26-of-27 in stolen base opportunities.

Adan Ramey, P/OF, Elberta, Sr.

The right-hander went 7-2 on the mound with a 1.63 ERA and 78 strikeouts. At the plate, he hit .385 with 31 runs scored.

Lakelon Ray, OF, Spanish Fort, Sr.

Ray hit .404 with 34 runs scored for the Toros. He stole 33 of 37 bases and struck out just 8 times in 114 at-bats.

Bryce Rivers, IF, Mobile Christian, Jr.

Rivers hit .411 with 38 RBIs and 27 runs scored for the Leopards. He stole 16 of 17 bases and was a first-team 5A All-State selection.

John Stowers, C, St. Paul’s, Jr.

The Auburn commit powered the Saints into the Class 5A finals. He hit .381 with 12 home runs, 14 doubles, 39 runs scored and 46 RBIs. He was a first-team All-State selection.

Sawyer Sullivan, P, Leroy, Jr.

Sullivan was named the 1A Pitcher of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He went 10-1 with a pair of saves in 14 appearances and had a 1.72 ERA.

Ty Waters, P/IF, UMS-Wright, Jr.

Waters helped UMS to the Class 5A quarterfinals. He went 4-1 on the mound with a pair of saves and a 1.98 ERA. At the plate, he hit .402 with 23 RBIs and 24 runs scored in 97 at-bats.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Fairhope vs Central-Phenix City Baseball

Fairhope’s Rock Gearhart celebrates after hitting a home run during a preps baseball game, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Fairhope, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com

Rock Gearhart, OF, Fairhope, Sr.

Gearhart powered the Pirates to a 31-12 record and an appearance in the Class 7A state semifinals. The first team Class 7A All-State selection also was named 7A Hitter of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

He hit .375 with 10 homers, 12 doubles and 39 RBIs. He will play college baseball at Coastal Alabama South.

Recent Coastal Players of the Year

2025: Rock Gearhart, Fairhope

2024: Charles Morris, Thomasville

2023: Josh Gunther, Bayside Academy

2022: Zane Stokes, Mobile Christian

2021: Maddux Bruns, UMS-Wright (Mr. Baseball)

2020: No winner due to COVID-19 pandemic

2019: Chandler Best, McGill-Toolen

2018: Jeremiah Jackson, St. Luke’s (Mr. Baseball)

2017: Bubba Thompson, McGill-Toolen

2016: Grant Barber, UMS-Wright

2015: Blaine Crim, St. Paul’s

2014: Jesse McCord, Spanish Fort

2013: Jesse McCord, Spanish Fort

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

St. Paul’s vs Saraland Baseball

Saraland’s Cade Mason throws a pitch during a preps baseball game, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com

Cade Mason, P, Saraland, Soph.

The right-hander went 7-2 with a save for Brett Boutwell’s Spartans this season. He had a 0.84 ERA, striking out 67 batters in 58 innings.

All three of the previous newcomers of the year are on this year’s Terrific 22.

Recent Newcomers of the Year

2025: Cade Mason, Saraland

2024: Bryce Rivers, Mobile Christian

2023: Edward McLeod, St. Paul’s

2022: Miles Drew Johnson, Fairhope

COACH OF THE YEAR

Elberta Marbury Baseball

Elberta head coach Owen Davis during a high school playoff baseball game against Marbury Monday, May 5, 2025 in Deatsville, Ala. (Stew Milne | preps@al.com)Stew Milne

Owen Davis, Elberta

The statewide Class 5A Coach of the Year led the Warriors to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

Elberta took St. Paul’s to a third and deciding game before falling just short of making the state finals. The Warriors finished the season at 27-10. Davis’ roster included nine seniors, eight of whom had been with the coach since he took over the program three years ago.

“We had high expectations going into the season because of that leadership factor, but in baseball you just never know what might happen,” Davis said this spring.

Davis also was named Coastal Coach of the Year in 2014 while leading Daphne.

Recent Coaches of the Year

2025: Owen Davis, Elberta

2024: Trent Higginbothem, Baldwin County

2023: JD Pruitt, Spanish Fort

2022: Talley Haines, Mobile Christian

2021: Jeff Hauge, Bayshore Christian

2020: No winner due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2019: Tyler Minto, Baker

2018: Matt Seymour, Faith Academy

2017: Kevin Raley, UMS-Wright

2016: Matt Seymour, Faith Academy

2015: Talley Haines, Mobile Christian

2014: Owen Davis, Daphne

2013: Tim Becker, St. Luke’s

St. Paul’s at UMS-Wright baseball playoffs

UMS-Wright’s Manning Amorde bats against St. Paul’s in Game 1 of the Class 5A quarterfinals Friday, May, 2, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | preps@al.com) Mike Kittrell | preps@al.com

COASTAL 2025 HONORABLE MENTION

Dylan Ackerman, P/IF, Daphne, Sr.

Landen Adams, P/IF, Elberta, Sr.

Mitchell Adams, P, McGill-Toolen, Jr.

Manning Amorde, OF, UMS-Wright, Soph.

Jackson Allred, C, Elberta, Sr.

Max Anderson, OF, Clarke Prep, Sr.

Brayden Bailey, IF, J.U. Blacksher, Jr.

Fuller Chisholm, IF, Saraland, Sr.

Cooper Clemmons, IF, Clarke Prep, Sr.

Cooper Crenshaw, OF, Satsuma, Jr.

Jonah Daughtery, IF, St. Michael, Sr.

Landon Dearmon, IF/P, Washington County, Jr.

Connor English, OF/P, Alma Bryant, Sr.

Hudson Farnell, OF/C, St. Paul’s, Sr.

Tate Farrell, P/LF, St. Paul’s, Jr.

Cooper Frampton, P/IF, St. Luke’s, Soph.

JC Foster, IF/OF, Leroy, Sr.

Keegan Giles, IF, Leroy, Jr.

Colt Glen, IF, Leroy, Soph.

Easton Grace, C/IF, W.S. Neal, Jr.

Harper Harrison, C, Flomaton, Sr.

Riley Hall, P, Faith Academy, Sr.

Cooper Henson, P/IF/OF, Saraland, Sr.

Ethan Hilpert, IF, McGill-Toolen, Sr.

Tucker Hicks, P/IF, Satsuma, Sr.

Sid Hobbs, IF, Fruitdale, Jr.

Phoenix Holyfield, P/IF, Millry, Sr.

Eli Hubbert, P/IF, T.R. Miller, Jr.

Bradley Irish, P, St. Paul’s, Sr.

Tate Johnston, IF, St. Paul’s, Jr.

Kevin Jones, OF, Elberta, Sr.

Jackson Lyles, P, Robertsdale, Sr.

Darius Kapua, IF/P, Satsuma, Soph.

Cam Kerbl, IF, St. Michael, Soph.

Dalton Mandel, IF/OF, T.R. Miller, Jr.

Jerry McDowell, P, Fairhope, Sr.

Anderson Murray, P/IF, Mary G. Montgomery, Sr.

Fuller Musgrove, P/C/IF, Mary G. Montgomery, Sr.

John William Nix, P/IF, Gulf Shores, Fr.

Braden Nall, IF, Flomaton, Soph.

Cade Phillips, P/OF, Alma Bryant, Fr.

Isaac Parten, P/IF, Thomasville, Jr.

Andy Purvis, P, UMS-Wright, Sr.

Eli Quinley, C, Faith Academy, Soph.

Jamison Roberts, OF, Saraland, Soph.

Landon Rubel, IF, Snook, Sr.

Cooper Sanders, IF, Orange Beach, Sr.

Will Sparks, P, Fairhope, Sr.

Matthew Steele, P, Orange Beach, Sr.

Eli Stone, IF/OF, W.S. Neal, Jr.

Alex Ramos, IF, Alma Bryant, Jr.

Pierce Rogers, P/IF, Baker, Sr.

John Luke Stephens, IF, Gulf Shores, Jr.

Price Stephens, C, Gulf Shores, Jr.

Jquan Stewart, IF/OF, Millry, Sr.

Jackson Waite, P/IF/OF, Millry, Sr.

Russ Warner, IF/OF, St. Luke’s, Soph.

Lawson Whigham, IF/P, Millry, Sr.

Riley Wilemon, OF, Faith Academy, Jr.

Brodie Wilson, P/IF, Faith Academy, Soph.

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