Prep Baseball Report

AL HS Team Preview: Priceville Bulldogs


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: Priceville Bulldogs 

Coach’s Name: Preston Potter 

Classification: AHSAA 4A 

2022 Record: 16-10

Area Number: Class 4A, Area 12 

No. of Returning Positional Starters:

No. of Returning Pitchers:

Team Strengths: Experience, Pitching Staff, Offensive Power 

Top Returning Players:

Top 2023 Prospects:

  • OF Xander Gaines (2023)
  • OF Brayden Burney (2023)
  • OF Robert Munive (2023)

Top 2024 Prospects:

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

  • INF Brody Collins (2025)

Team Outlook

The Priceville Bulldogs return a strong group of upperclassmen who will look to lead them to the Class 4A playoffs after just missing out last spring. The Bulldogs move from Area 13 to Area 12 in Class 4A this spring, and will be competing for a spot in the playoffs with East Lawrence, West Morgan and Haleyville. They'll once again be strong both at the plate and on the mound with plenty of returners coming back. 

Experience should be a strength for Priceville in 2023, as they bring back all nine positional starters that were in the lineup in addition to five pitchers to the rotation. Coach Potter will look for those experienced juniors and seniors to provide leadership and production both at the plate and on the mound. RHP/1B Joseph Garrison (Troy signee, 2023) is a Top-35 prospect in his graduation class in AL, and looks the part of a future starter at the next level. The strong and durable 6-foot-5, 240-pounder right-hander is coming off an impressive performance at last Saturday's North AL Preseason All-State, where he showed a fastball that was up to 87 mph and strikes with all secondary offerings. He has shown the ability to run his fastball up to 90 mph at previous PBR events, and will look to lead the pitching staff this spring as their ace while providing some offensive production at the plate.

RHP Joseph Garrison (1/8/23)

Another Division 1 commitment the Bulldogs have on their roster is C Wes Walker (North Alabama recruit, 2024), who will be look to continue to lead the offense in 2023. During his sophomore season last spring, the left-hander led the team in batting average (.410), doubles (12), and RBI's (27) while catching almost every inning behind the plate for the past two seasons.

C Wes Walker (5/15/22)

INF Zach Chaney (Tennesse-Southern, 2023) is another returning upperclassmen who will be headed to play at the next level after this year. Chaney will be one of their middle-of-the-order hitters that shows power from the right side and the ability to play multiple positions defensively. He also recorded 10 2B's and 17 RBI's for the Bulldogs in his junior campaign last spring, and is looking for an even bigger year at the plate in 2023.

INF Zach Chaney (6/4/22)

Returning to the top of the order this year will be SS Jackson Prickett (2023), who is a catalyst that brings a bunch of versatility to this offense. The right-hander is an athletic player with sneaky pop from the right side of the plate, and hit .370 with 12 2B's, 17 RBI's, 27 R's, and 13 SB's. He has plenty of speed in his skill set and has been a sub-7.0 runner at previous PBR events.

SS Jackson Prickett (1/27/22)

Another big piece returning to the Bulldogs' pitching staff this spring will be RHP Colman Gann (2025), who was second on the team in innings pitched (33 IP) while leading the staff in strikeouts (53 K's) as a freshman. He will continue to see his workload increase this spring, and will be a quality prospect in the sophomore class to follow over the next few years. LHP/1B Thomas Kerby (2023) is another quality two-way upperclassmen that played a vital role to last year's success. The southpaw has plenty of pitch-ability and feel for his secondary offerings, and also hit .330 with 16 RBI's in the middle of the order last year, as well.

LHP Thomas Kerby (3/5/22)

UTL Ty Parker (2023) will also play a big role for the Bulldogs this spring and brings a ton to the table with his defensive versatility. Parker can play anywhere on the field, and hit .310 from the 9-hole and leadoff spot last year while being second on the team in RBI's (20) and scored 25 R's with 19 SB's. In addition to some of these returners, there will also be others who are sure to play a key role to his team's success. Some of those players to watch this spring will be OF Xander Gaines (2023), OF Brayden Burney (2023), OF Robert Munive (2023), INF Ryan Hanks (2024) and INF Brody Collins (2025). Facing off against different teams in their area to compete for a spot in the Class 4A playoffs this spring, the Bulldogs definitely have the potential to be a real threat this spring with a strong core of returners coming back. Keep an eye out for a competitive ball club in Priceville in 2023.

 

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