New era of Tigers baseball under Phillips

Coach: Brad Phillips (first year at Hartselle)

Marquee games (nonarea):

Hoover, Hazel Green, Oxford, Russellville, Auburn, Houston (Tenn.)

Area: Class 6A Area 15

Area opponents: Athens, Decatur, Muscle Shoals

2024 record/finish: 33-11, lost in state championship series Returning starters: Cole Miles, Asher Doepel, Jace Meadows

Newcomers: Ty Marsh, Easton Nelms, Cruise Baker, Connor Stiles

College signees: Marsh Western Kentucky, Nelms – Samford, Meadows UAH

College commits: Miles – Jacksonville State

Storylines: How does year one under new coach Brad Phillips look after taking over for legendary coach William Booth? How do the Tigers replace six college signees from last season? Who steps up to fill the number two spot behind Meadows on the mound? Can the young Tigers grow up quickly in the face of one of the most challenging schedules in any classification in the state?

Who do you expect to have a big year? Meadows will have a big year as our No. 1 starter on the mound. Offensively, I look for Miles, Nelms and Marsh to lead us.

Quoting coach: “Our schedule is one of the toughest in the state all by design. Great records are good, but we all know we play for State Championships around here, so putting our team in the best possible situation to contend for a state championship is a super difficult schedule.” What do the Tigers need to do to be successful? This team needs to grow up quickly and learn to do the little things to give them a chance in the long term.

Area outlook: Athens joins the area this year to make a four-team area with Muscle Shoals and Decatur.