Thompson Warriors Aim for Glory in 2026 Season

Experienced team and strong culture under coach Frankie Perez set to contend in Class 7A

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Thompson Warriors baseball team is gearing up for an exciting 2026 season, led by an experienced roster and the strong culture instilled by head coach Frankie Perez. With a talented pitching staff, several potential breakout stars, and a roster of players who hate to lose, the Warriors are determined to make a deep playoff run after falling short in recent years.

Why it matters

Thompson has been knocking on the door of a state championship, making it to the semifinals in 2023 and facing tough losses to Bob Jones in the last two seasons. This year, with an experienced team and Perez's culture taking root, the Warriors believe they have what it takes to finally break through and contend for the Class 7A title.

The details

The Warriors will be led by a strong pitching staff, including junior Jude Young, who excels at finding the strike zone. They also have several potential breakout stars, including Cooper Craycraft, Cade Brantley, Alabama State signee Aidan Deramus, and Noah Quang. While Thompson has fallen short in recent years, losing to Vestavia Hills in the semifinals in 2023 and to Bob Jones in the second round in 2024 and the first round in 2025, the team is determined to finish close games this season.

  • The Warriors will open their season with a rematch against Bob Jones on February 21 at the PBR Kickoff Classic in Northport.
  • Over spring break, the team will travel to Tennessee for six games to help shape their identity and work on areas of improvement.
  • Thompson will face a challenging schedule, including matchups against Huntsville, Auburn High, Hoover, and Vestavia, as well as showcase tournaments like the Madison Tournament at James Clemens, the Perfect Game Invitational, the Black Cobra Media tournament in Alabaster, and the PBR Kickoff Classic.

The players

Frankie Perez

The head coach of the Thompson Warriors, who has instilled a strong culture and is grateful for the experienced roster he has this season.

Jude Young

A junior pitcher for the Warriors who excels at finding the strike zone and making life difficult for hitters.

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What they’re saying

“We've got a lot of guys back that have been part of our runs and big games. So, as you know, in the 7A level, you want to have guys that have been there before. So that's something that I really like.”

— Frankie Perez, Head Coach (shelbycountyreporter.com)

“I think the greatest strengths for us is just our passion and love for the game. We hate to lose more than anything. We hate to lose more than we want to win. So, we show up every day with a little chip on our shoulder, trying to get a win.”

— Blair (shelbycountyreporter.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This year, the Thompson Warriors are poised to make a deep playoff run, with an experienced roster, a strong pitching staff, and a determined team culture instilled by coach Frankie Perez. If they can limit errors, finish close games, and stay focused, they have a real shot at contending for the Class 7A championship.