Update: The Pike Road Baseball team lost in the first round of the AHSAA Playoffs to Gulf Shores. The Patriots end the season 12-19.
The Pike Road High School Baseball team ended the season with a 12-17 record despite a demanding non-area schedule. The team managed to clinch the Area 3 6A title with a 5-1 record and advance to the first round of the AHSAA 2025 Baseball Playoffs.
First Year Head Coach Caleb Brooks commended his team for their resilience and growth throughout the season, noting that close losses could have easily demoralized them but instead served as learning opportunities.
“I am very proud of this group and what we were able to accomplish,” said Brooks. “We challenged this group with a pretty tough schedule this year and had some very close losses throughout the season that could have made this group fold, but instead, they have done a good job of learning from these games and the mistakes we made in those games and continued to get better as the season has gone on.”
Brooks shared about the team battling numerous injuries, but they were able to adapt and improve, especially in the face of injuries that required players to step up and fill crucial roles to help them continue to move forward.
“We have won five of our last six games, and everything feels like it is clicking and heading in the right direction at the right time,” shared Brooke. “This is what we have preached to these guys all season.”
The team dropped their first area game to Rehobeth and had a big six-run 7th-inning comeback win in game two against Rehobeth to get their first area win under Brooks’s leadership. Then they won their last five area games to go 5-1 in the area.
“We did a great job of taking care of the games that truly mattered to get ourselves an opportunity to open the postseason at home,” shared Brooks.
Brooks highlighted the exceptional performances of several players, such as Runner Stripling, Ethan Hunter, Q Robinson, and Herb Reyes, whose contributions on the field were instrumental in the team’s success.
“Runner Stripling deserves a lot of credit for his leadership and his willingness to play any position needed to help this team,” Brooks said. “We were down both catchers for a game with Elmore County earlier this season, and he stepped up and caught all seven innings behind the plate for his first time catching in years. He has played 2B, SS, 3B, and LF, and now is our number 1 pitcher off the mound, holding a 1.48 ERA in 33 IP this season. It has been great to watch a guy who wants the ball and wants to compete for our team take over that role the last few weeks.”
Brooks also shared, “Ethan Hunter has also stepped up in a major way his senior year. After only throwing three innings last year, he has thrown 26 innings and posted a 2.43 ERA and won some big games for us like our win at Tuscaloosa County and last week’s area-clinching win over Russell County.”
“Q Robinson has had a huge year at the plate as a sophomore, bringing his average up almost .150 from what he finished last year, and has been a huge piece out of the leadoff spot for us,” said Brooks. “And Herb Reyes has also had a great 2nd half of the season for us at the plate, providing some power and consistency over the last few weeks, which has been extremely important for us.”
He also praised the dedication and impact of assistant coaches Adrian Holloway and Phillip Doty, whose expertise and rapport with the players significantly contributed to the team’s achievements.
Brooks shared, “Coach Holloway comes in with a tremendous pedigree, having been a College Head Coach for the last 10 years, and has developed a great team. Coach Doty has done a great job with our pitchers and has been an important piece, having prior relationships with all of these players and being around the program for the last few years. We would not have been able to have the season we have had without them and their commitment to our program and kids.”
Coach Caleb Brooks expressed his gratitude to the Pike Road community for their unwavering support of the Pike Road High School baseball program.
The Pike Road community is invited to attend the opening playoff series against Gulf Shores. The games will be played at Pike Road High School on Friday, April 18, at 4 and 7 p.m., with a potential Game 3 on Saturday, April 19, at noon.
As the team gears up for the playoff challenge, Coach Brooks remains optimistic and proud of what they have accomplished this season, embodying the spirit of unity and determination that has defined Pike Road High School’s baseball program under his leadership.
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