By Rubin E. Grant
Vestavia Hills captured the 2023 Class 7A state baseball championship, ending a 23-year drought without a title for the Rebels, but please don’t call them defending champions this season.
At least that’s the viewpoint of Vestavia Hills coach Jamie Harris.
“I’m not sure you can say we’re defending champs,” Harris said. “If we had all the guys from last year’s team back, then we would be defending champs. But they’re in college now.
“This is a different deal. We lost 80 percent of our innings (on the mound) and 80 percent of our at-bats. That’s not to say we don’t have good players, but we’re a new team, a young and inexperienced team.
“We’re the epitome of a young team with a lot of ups and downs. We can beat anybody in the state and we can lose to anybody in the state.”
The Rebels’ record reflects that. They were 12-11 after splitting a doubleheader with Grissom last Saturday.
Harris said he’s had to learn to be patient during the first month of the season.
“You can’t simulate experience,” he said. “It’s not like you can speed up the process of growing. Young players make mistakes that young players do. The only way to get better is to play games.”
The Rebels have a few experienced players with senior John Paul Head being chief among them. He has signed with UAB as a catcher.
“John Paul is the one guy with a ton of experience,” Harris said. “He’s been there, done that. We have played him at first base, DH (designated hitter), catcher and third base, and he’s hitting at the top of the order.”
Senior outfielder Caden Taylor, who has committed to Northwest Shoals Community College, and junior outfielder William Tonsmeire, a Southern Miss commit, are two other players with some experience.
“They played a good bit last year, even though they weren’t everyday starters,” Harris said.
The Rebels’ most glaring lack of experience is pitching, where, Harris said, “We had nothing coming back.”
The team is leaning heavily on junior left-handers Chase Rafferty and Colin Jones to carry the load on the mound.
“Both of those guys have been really solid,” Harris said. “But if they are not good, then we’re not good.”
The Rebels open Class 7A, Area 5 play this week with three games against Thompson. The area also includes Hoover and Tuscaloosa County.
“I think the area is up for grabs,” Harris said. “I don’t think it’s as good as it has been and it’s reflected in the records.”
Through the middle of last week, Thompson was 19-7, Hoover 11-12 and Tuscaloosa County 11-11.
“Every team in our area has more losses going into area play than they had at this time last year,” Harris said. “Everybody is trying to find themselves.
“Getting out of our area is always tough, but I think it’s a little different this year.”
