The 2025 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 rankings 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 ranks in each AHSAA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Collinsville Panthers
Head Coach: Ernie Willingham
Classification: AHSAA Class 3A
Area Number: Class 3A, Area 13
2024 Record (Finish): 26-7 (Eliminated in Sweet Sixteen)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Team Strengths: Experience

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• RHP/INF Gavin Lang (2027)
• SS Mason McAteer (2027)
• RHP/INF Will Edmondson (Shorter, 2025)
• RHP Zack Clanton (2025)
• C Jeremiah Killian (2027)
• RHP/OF Jameson Coker (2025)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Collinsville Panthers are coming off one of their better seasons in program history with an appearance in the Sweet 16 and an impressive 26-7 record. Looking to claim their first-ever state championship in program history, the Panthers are once again loaded on the offensive side of the ball with numerous key returners on the mound. Moving up from Class 2A to Class 3A this spring, the Panthers look primed for another deep run this season.

The Panthers were consistently ranked inside the top-10 for the entirety of the season in 2024, as they enjoyed a near-flawless regular season by defeating some quality programs and sweeping through their area to claim an area championship. Of their five losses entering the playoffs, four of them were to a team in a higher classification than them with those games still being competitive. After sweeping past Altamont at home in the 1st round, the Panthers were eliminated, however, in a high-level, three-game series by scores of 3-0, 1-4, and 5-6 to close out their season with a 26-7 record. Being left with a sour taste in their mouth and hoping to avenge that loss this spring, the Panthers appear to be more than equipped to do so with eight positional starter and five pitchers returning for the 2025 season. Experience will be a main team strength this season, as most of these players have been starter for three years. RHP/INF Gavin Lang (2027) is a do-it-all type prospect for the Panthers who is coming off a stellar freshman campaign on both sides of the ball. At the plate, the right-hander hit .414 with 33 RBIs, while mixing in a 9-1 record with 103 Ks and a 0.75 ERA on the mound. Look for this top-30 ranked prospect in the 2027 class in AL to have another big spring this season. SS Mason McAteer (2027) is another star sophomore who is coming off an incredible freshman campaign while putting up some video game numbers. At the plate, the right-hander hit .513 in batting average with 28 RBIs, 40 Rs, and 29 SBs (100%) on the base paths and looks primed for an even bigger 2025 campaign. Behind them, RHP/INF Will Edmondson (Shorter, 2025) and RHP Zack Clanton (2025) are a pair of talented seniors looking to go out with a state championship. Edmondson hit .412 last season and went 3-0 on the mound with a 2.20 ERA, while Clanton compiled an 8-4 record with 115 Ks and a 2.17 ERA. C Jeremiah Killian (2027) is another talented returning sophomore who brings back a .333 batting average and 25 RBIs from a season ago, while RHP/OF Jameson Coker (2025) will only boost this pitching staff after missing last year on the mound due to injury, but still made an impact offensively with a .500 OBP and 16 RBIs.

As easy as it is to see, the Panthers look more than equipped to have another strong season and will start out the season as a quality contenders in a talented Class 3A field. They'll compete in Class 3A, Area 13 against Fyffe, Geraldine, and Sylvania for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Expect the Panthers to be a talented, experienced team that has a chance to make a deep run in their first season in Class 3A.

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Find more information on the 2025 Collinsville program below:

+ Follow them on X: @Collinsville_HS
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2025 HS Team Previews

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FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL ALABAMA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Alabama on X
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Facebook

 

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