MADISON-  The Bob Jones baseball program is used to winning and the 2024 season is no different. The Patriots are also used to being ranked among the state’s and country’s best teams and this year’s squad is right there among the top.

Led by nine-year head coach Jared Smith, who posted his 300^th career victory earlier in the season, the Patriots are ranked No. 2 among Class 7A programs in Alabama and have risen to high as No. 5 in the country according to MaxPreps. The latest MaxPreps rankings have Bob Jones at No. 13 with a 28-6 overall record. Perfect Game has the Patriots at No. 17 overall and No. 6 in its Deep South rankings while PBR list the red, white and blue Patriots No. 24.

The Bob Jones roster is made up of 15 seniors and nine juniors, many of which started for the squad a season ago and made the Elite 8 Class 7A playoffs. This season, with three players committed to Southeastern Conference schools, the Pats are 28-6 including a huge 11-6 victory over the nation’s top rated team in IMG Academy of Bradenton, Fla. The team is working together as a well-oiled machine and is on a roll.

“We are a team that is connected together and are very close as our chemistry is just right,” said Jacob Pearl, senior starting second baseman committed to play for Montevallo once in college. “We feel we are getting things done and we’re confident we will win as we continue moving through the season schedule.”

The schedule will include the huge crosstown battle with James Clemens in a three-game series April 18 and 20.

“The national ranking is a big change for us from the standpoint the recognition puts a target on our backs,” added Pearl, who is in his second season at Bob Jones after being a three-year starter at Huntsville High. “I think the ranking is good, but we’re so much more than a nationally ranked team as we’re fun to watch, full of energy, loud and will fight to win. Many of us are good friends away from the game. Coach Smith brings us together for special events so we always have the feeling of a team.”

“We feel good about our athleticism with multiple guys who can play multiple positions as we have those important parts on the squad to make us winners,” said Smith.

“We leave everything we have on the field and grind to the finish when we play,” said Pearl.