Alabama high school baseball: 4 new No. 1 teams as 2026 playoffs begin

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Faith Academy’s Riley Wilemon celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s pitcher John Stowers begins his windup during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Tate Johnston swings at a pitch during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Bryce Turner catches a fly ball during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s John Stowers is caught for an out by Faith Academy’s Collin Hall while trying to steal third base during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy pitcher Brodie Wilson begins his windup during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Evan Hawarah swings at a pitch during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Riley Wilemon runs the bases after hitting a home run during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy head coach Matt Seymour looks back at the umpire during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Riley Wilemon catches a fly ball during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Tate Johnston chases down a fly ball during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Riley Wilemon catches a fly ball during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Evan Hawarah catches a pop-up bunt during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Bay Lane catches a fly ball during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Braydon Wright celebrates after hitting a double during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Bryce Turner is tagged out by St. Paul’s Max Boulo at third base during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Evan Hawarah dives to stop a ground ball during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Braydon Wright celebrates with teammates after scoring a run during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Riley Wilemon runs the bases after hitting a home run during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Cooper Smith dives back to second base to beat the throw from the catcher during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Ross Delaney fields the ball in the infield during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Kobe Hunt dives back to first base to beat the throw during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Braydon Wright fields a short-hopper during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Carlos Ortiz stops a ground ball during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Harris McLeod stretches for the play at first base during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Carlos Ortiz completes a double play throw to first base during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s John Stowers dives back to first base to beat the throw during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Ross Delaney scoops up a ground ball during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

St. Paul’s Evan Hawarah dives back to first base to beat the throw during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Braydon Wright fields the ball in the infield during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

Faith Academy’s Cooper Smith celebrates with teammates after scoring a run during a preps baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)

In a major shift heading into the playoffs, four new teams moved to No. 1 in their respective classifications in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings of the 2026 season.

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