Ben Thomas

Mobile

Local High School Reporter, Alabama Media Group at AL.com

Covers High School sports in Alabama for the Alabama Media Group

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Articles

Who was Alabama’s best HS baseball player in 2025? Vote now

3 days ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

AL.com is looking for your choice for the best high school baseball player in Alabama for the just concluded 2025 season. The AL.com high school staff – with input from coaches around the state – has selected 8 finalists to choose from in an NCAA Tournament-like bracket. Voting for the Round 1 matchups is now open and will conclude Saturday. The players receiving the most votes advance to next week’s semifinals.
Alabama baseball signee named Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year

4 days ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

Alabama signee Eric Hines, who slugged American Christian to the Class 5A state title this spring, has been named the Gatorade Alabama baseball player of the year. Gatorade announced the news Tuesday morning. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Hines hit .438 with 20 home runs, 58 RBIs and 66 runs scored for the Patriots. The Alabama Sports Writers Association named him the Class 5A Player and Hitter of the Year over the weekend. Hines led ACA to a 34-14-1 record.
Top Alabama junior commits to out-of-state national power

4 days ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

The anchor of Class 7A state champion Thompson’s defensive line has committed to Oregon. Rising junior Cam Pritchett committed to the Ducks after a weekend visit to Oregon. He chose them over Tennessee, Auburn, Florida State, Clemson and a number of high-profile colleges. On3 reported the news. The 6-foot-3, 231-pound EDGE reportedly declined a $750,000 offer this spring to leave Thompson and finish his high school career in another state.
Class 7A football program hires veteran Alabama HS coach to lead way

4 days ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

Adam Winegarden is returning to the high school ranks. The veteran coach was approved Monday morning as the new head football coach at Albertville High. “We are excited to have him,” Albertville City Schools superintendent Bart Reeves told AL.com. “All you have to do is do a google search to see what kind of man and coach he is.
This week in HS Sports: AHSAA’s Transfer Task Force is not just for show

1 week ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

This is an opinion piece. Don’t expect the AHSAA’s new Transfer Task Force to be all talk and no action. That is the clear message I received in a conversation with executive director Heath Harmon today after the first meeting of the Task Force earlier this week. “Things take time, but I want everyone to know that this task force is not going away,” Harmon said. “We are not meeting just to meet. This is going to be results oriented.
See the best photo from the AHSAA 2025 state baseball finals

2 weeks ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

Photographer Vasha Hunt captured the key plays and the emotion of the AHSAA 2025 state baseball finals last week in Oxford and Jacksonville. Vasha selected some of his best photos (shown in the gallery above), and we let you the readers vote on the top image. The winning photograph, receiving more than 75 percent of the vote, was the shot below of St. Paul’s players celebrating a home run during their Class 5A championship series against American Christian.
This week in HS Sports: Bill Griffin retiring from McGill-Toolen after 4 decades

2 weeks ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

This is an opinion piece. Few people have given more to one school than Bill Griffin has to McGill-Toolen Catholic. Including the time when he was a student, Griffin has spent four decades at the Mobile school in multiple roles. He retires this week after 36 years as a teacher and administrator, the last 15 as athletic director. “I think I’ll miss it a little,” Griffin said. “I won’t miss the grind of the day-to-day.
Class 5A school hires veteran high school, college coach to lead football program

2 weeks ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

Joel Williams will enter his 45th year of coaching football this fall, and he’ll do it at what he believes will be his final stop. Williams was approved Thursday night as the new head football coach at Class 5A Elberta High in Baldwin County. “This is my last job,” Williams told AL.com. “I’m not going anywhere else and anyone who knows me knows I am nowhere close to retiring. I’m still a high energy guy, and I can’t wait to get in there and get started.
Blount hires state champion coach to lead boys basketball program

2 weeks ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

Blount High School has hired state championship coach Shumbe Hunter to lead its boys basketball program. Principal Jerome Woods made the announcement Tuesday afternoon. Hunter replaces Kantonio Davis, who spent just one season at the school. “We are excited to welcome coach Hunter to the Blount basketball family,” Woods told AL.com. “He is a proven winner, disciplinarian, state champion. I’ve watched him coach from afar.
Hall of Fame coach will try to resurrect McGill-Toolen softball program

2 weeks ago | al.com | Ben Thomas

How do you resurrect a softball program that has struggled for years? Hire a Hall of Fame coach. At least, that’s what McGill-Toolen is hoping it takes to turn its softball program in the right direction. The Yellow Jackets announced last week they have hired longtime Baker coach Tony Scarbrough to lead their program. “I’ve known Tony since I was coaching softball,” McGill-Toolen retiring athletic director Bill Griffin said. “He was somewhat of a legend even then. He always has mentored young coaches.

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