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AL HS Team Preview: Pell City Panthers

January 27, 2023
PBR Alabama Staff

The 2023 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the Jacksonville/Oxford/Montgomery area at the AISA or AHSAA state championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Alabama. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason Top 10 in each AHSAA classification. 

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each AHSAA classification as well as a Power 25. One thing that you especially don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state as well as recaps and previews of big games across the state.  

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.


High School Name: Pell City Panthers

Coach’s Name: David Collins 

Classification: AHSAA 6A 

2022 Record: 22-14

Area Number: Class 6A, Area 13 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 7 

Team Strengths: Pitching, Team Speed  

Top Returning Players:

Top 2023 Prospects:

Top 2024 Prospects:

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

Team Outlook

The Pell City Panthers improved on their previous year in 2022, posting a 22-14 record and reaching the 2nd round of the Class 6A playoffs. Staying in Area 13 this spring, the Panthers are matched up with Oxford, Gadsden City, and Fort Payne with hopes of advancing back to the playoffs in 2023.

Last season, this Panthers finished as the runner-up behind Oxford in Class 6A, Area 13 and traveled to take on Mortimer Jordan in the 1st round of the playoffs. The Panthers won a thrilling series by taking Game 3 by score of 7-6 in the 8th inning. In the Sweet 16, Pell City hosted Buckhorn and were defeated in two games to end their successful season at 22-14. They have plenty of players returning to this year's team, especially on the mound with seven pitchers coming back after seeing time in 2022. OF/LHP Tait Nunnally (Eastern Kentucky signee, 2023) is a do-it-all type player that will lead the charge both at the plate and on the mound, and is headed to play at the next level as a pure left-handed hitter. The former PBR Future Gamer has excellent bat-to-ball skills at the plate and is quality southpaw on the bump, as well.

OF Tait Nunnally (7/22/22)

Two more seniors that the Panthers are excited to get back for another year are OF/LHP Daniel Cain (2023) and C Andrew Hardy (2023). Both played big roles on last year's team and will be asked for more of the same production this spring. 1B Curtis Collins (2023) and RHP Dylan Golden (2023) are another pair of seniors that will be expected to provide leadership in addition to their efforts on the diamond. OF/LHP William Perry (2024) is also a Top-75 prospect in the junior class in AL that will look to build off of a strong sophomore campaign and look to provide more production both at the plate and on the mound.

OF William Perry (1/16/22)

Looking to throw significant innings on the mound this spring, RHP/OF Brayley Smith (2024) is another Top-75 prospect in the junior class in AL that has been a top performer at a couple PBR events over the last year. Smith most recently looked sharp in his showing this month's North AL Preseason All-State where he ran his fastball up to 88 mph with quality secondary offerings.

RHP Brayley Smith (1/8/23)

Also looking to build off of his strong showing at the North AL Preseason All-State, 3B/RHP Dalton Fink (2024) will look to provide an immediate boost in his first year inside the Panthers' program. The uncommitted junior has some physicality in his right-handed swing with gap-to-gap power. A few more juniors to watch for this spring will be OF Zach Dawson (2024), SS/RHP Ashton Hamm (2024), and RHP Brady Laminack (2024).

3B Dalton Fink (1/7/23)

In addition to these upperclassmen, there are some talented younger players looking to make their impact this spring and compete for playing time in the early part of the season. Some of those underclassmen to watch for this spring will be OF/RHP Justyce Ammons (2025), C Peyton Moss (2025), UTL Tristan Stancil (2025), RHP Jayce Thompson (2026), and 1B JorDon Perry (2026). After reaching the Sweet 16 in 2022, the Panthers seem to have plenty of talent to make it back in the Class 6A playoffs and be a strong threat this spring. Keep an eye out for Pell City to be a competitive club in 2023.

 

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