The 2025 All-Messenger Baseball Team, proudly presented by Piggly Wiggly, is loaded with some of the best talent the all-star team has ever seen, making the effort to narrow the team down nearly impossible.. 

Headlining this year’s team is five athletes from Pike Liberal Arts School’s historic squad that made it to the State Championship series for the first time as a part of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA). Pike Lib earned a clean sweep over the postseason awards including Coach of the Year Will Austin, Player of the Year Kade Brookins and Pitcher of the Year Luke Barron. 

Austin is in his third year as the coach of the Patriots and he led his squad to the 2A State Championship series for the first time in school history as a part of the AHSAA. He was awarded the Class 2A Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association last week.

Brookins was one of Pike’s leaders on the mound and at the plate as a two-way star. He boasted a .336 batting average with 14 doubles, three triples, a home run, 16 stolen bases, 23 RBIs and 38 runs. As a pitcher, Brookins also earned a 2.80 ERA with a 1.317 WHIP, an area-high 79 strikeouts and 8-1 record. He also held a .926 fielding percentage in the outfield. 

Barron was stellar on the mound for Pike this season and saved his best for the postseason, boasting a 1.54 ERA with 26 strikeouts in the playoffs. For the season, Barron held a 1.726 ERA with 48 strikeouts and a 1.027 WHIP. He also held a 7-2 record with two saves on the mound. As a batter, Barron earned a .342 batting average with 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs, an area-leading 42 RBIs and 38 runs. 

Joining Barron and Brookins for Pike on the All-Messenger team is infielder Pruitt Vaughan, outfielder Jackson Bowen and designated hitter Garrett Whitaker. Whitaker held a .354 batting average with a .458 on-base percentage, eight doubles, one triple, three homers, 34 RBIs and 28 runs. Bowen boasted a team-high .370 batting average, .508 on-base percentage, six doubles, 17 RBIs, an area-leading 42 runs and 17 stolen bases. He also held a .984 fielding percentage on defense. Vaughan earned a .344 batting average with a .424 one-base percentage, 12 doubles, 23 RBIs, 39 runs and 16 stolen bases. At first base, Vaughan earned a .989 fielding percentage. 

Representing Charles Henderson on the All-Messenger team is pitcher Clay Johnson and infielder Chase Vaznain. Johnson was a two-way star for CHHS, boasting a .352 batting average with a .448 on-base percentage, eight doubles, three triples, 24 RBIs, 21 runs and 19 stolen bases on offense. As a pitcher, he held a 6-0 record on the mound with 27 strikeouts, a 2.25 ERA and 1.387 WHIP. Vaznain tallied six doubles, two triples, a home run, 28 RBIs, 28 runs and six stolen bases with a .443 batting average and .563 on-base percentage. 

Representing Goshen is catcher Tyler McLendon and utility Grant Taylor. McLendon held an area-high .554 batting average with 27 runs, 17 stolen bases, seven doubles and two triples. In the field, he held a .930 fielding percentage with 102 putouts, 17 assists and one double play. He also caught nine runners trying to steal. Taylor played all over the field for the Eagles, holding a .434 batting average with a .589 on-base percentage, five doubles, one homer, 12 RBIs and 20 runs. On defense, he held a .945 fielding percentage with 23 putouts, 29 assists and two double plays. He also pitched 37 innings and stuck out 55 batters, while boasting a 1.51 ERA. 

Pike County is represented on the All-Messenger Team by utility Britt Albritton and catcher Michael Gabel. Albritton held a .433 batting average with a .500 on-base percentage, three doubles, one triple, a home run, 17 stolen bases, 21 RBIs and 17 runs. He also boasted a .942 fielding percentage. Gable earned a .390 batting average with a .662 on-base percentage, five doubles, one triple, a homer, 22 stolen bases, nine RBIs and 20 runs. He also held a .907 fielding percentage on defense. 

The Ariton Purple Cats are represented on the All-Messenger Team by infielder Easton Kilpatrick, pitcher Austin Evans, catcher Wells Ganey and outfielder Aven Cook. Ganey was one of the top hitters in the area, boasting a .447 batting average with a .538 on-base percentage, 14 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 40 RBIs, 34 runs and 17 stolen bases. He also earned a .993 fielding percentage. 

Kilpatrick earned a .362 batting average with a .442 on-base percentage, four doubles, one triple, two home runs, 40 RBIs, 32 runs and 15 stolen bases. He also earned a .982 fielding percentage in the infield. Kilpatrick also pitched 38 and 1/3 innings and fanned 45 batters, while holding a 2.01 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. On the mound, he earned a  6-1 record with three saves.

Cook earned a .390 batting average with a .533 on-base percentage, three doubles, two triples, two stolen bases, 19 RBIs and 41 runs. He also earned a .938 fielding percentage on defense. Evans held a 2.19 ERA this season with a 1.14 WHIP. He went 5-2 on the mound with two saves, while striking out 50 batters in 54 1/3 innings pitched.

Infielder Brodie Stinson, utility John Foster Hamm and outfielder Joseph LeGear represent the Zion Chapel Rebels on the All-Messenger. Stinson earned a .425 batting average with a .527 on-base percentage, 11 doubles, one triple, a home run, an area-high 29 stolen bases, 18 RBIs and 30 runs. He also earned a .921 fielding percentage. LeGear held a .375 batting average with a .516 on-base percentage, three doubles, one triple, eight RBIs and 21 runs. He also earned an .848 fielding percentage. 

Hamm played both third base and pitcher for the Rebels. He held a .348 batting average with a .517 on-base percentage, 10 stolen bases, six doubles, one triple, 13 RBIs, while holding a 4-1 record on the mound. 

All-Messenger Baseball
P: Luke Barron, Pike Lib, Sr.
P: Clay Johnson, Charles Henderson, Sr.
P: Austin Evans, Ariton, Sr.
IF: Pruitt Vaughan, Pike Lib, Sr.
IF: Chase Vaznain, Charles Henderson, Sr.
IF: Brodie Stinson, Zion Chapel, Sr.
IF: Easton Kilpatrick, Ariton, Jr.
C: Tyler McLendon, Goshen, Sr.
C: Wells Ganey, Ariton, Jr.
C: Michael Gabel, Pike County, Sr.
OF: Jackson Bowen, Pike Lib, So.
OF: Joseph LeGear, Zion Chapel, Sr.
OF: Aven Cook, Ariton, Sr.
UTL: Kade Brookins, Pike Lib, Sr.
UTL: Britt Albritton, Pike County, Jr.
UTL: Grant Taylor, Goshen, Jr.
UTL: John Foster Hamm, Zion Chapel, Jr.
DH: Garrett Whitaker, Pike Lib, Fr.

Pitcher of the Year: Luke Barron, Pike Lib

Player of the Year: Kade Brookins, Pike Lib

Coach of the Year: Will Austin, Pike Lib