Power 25 HS Preview: #1 Parkview

The 2023 Georgia high school baseball season is less than a month away. With the season getting pushed up one week the coaches and players have an extra week to prepare for opening day. Will it be sunny and 75? Or below freezing for opening day? The Georgia weather is unpredictable, just like trying to predict who will come out on top of each classification. The talent in the State of Georgia continues to be one of the best in the country. Some regions have a fresh new look, and some region foes will continue to battle for that top spot to earn the best road to the state championship.

We will begin to preview our Power 25 rankings each day until the season begins. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each GHSA classification as well as a Power 25. Be sure to follow PBR Georgia on twitter for live action each week, as our staff travels throughout the state to cover baseball in the great state of Georgia.

High School Name: Parkview Panthers

Coach’s Name: Chan Brown

Classification: GHSA Class 7A

2022 Record: 30-8

Region: 4-7A

No. of Returning Starters: 10

Team Strengths: Depth

Top Returning Players:

• SS/RHP Colin Houck (Mississippi State, 2023)

• 1B/OF/RHP Landon Stripling (Texas Tech, 2023)

• OF/INF Ali Banks (Georgia Highlands, 2023)

• RHP/1B Garrett Lambert (Mercer, 2023)

Top 2024 Prospects:

• LHP Ford Thompson (Georgia)

• 3B Cade Brown (Georgia)

• OF Makhi Buckley (Tulane)

• C Ethan Finch (Samford)

• RHP Jon Holcomb (Uncommitted)

• RHP/OF Yanni McDuffie

• RHP Thorpe Musci (Georgia Tech)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• LHP Porter Berryman (2025)

• INF Mason Davis (2025)

• OF Malachi Washington (2026)

Team Outlook

Parkview left last season with unfinished business. They are poised to make a state championship run in the 2023 season. They are returning almost everyone, and have depth at every position. Seniors, Colin Houck, Landon Stripling, Garrett Lambert, and Ali Banks will lead the way in attempts to end their high school career as the final team standing at Truist Park. Lambert has made some big strides the past year. His fastball could creep into the mid 90’s this spring. Mississippi State commit Colin Houck is one of the top names in the 2023 MLB Draft. He is one of the most athletic players in the country, and will be able to make an impact at the plate and on the mound.

Colin Houck SS / 3B / Parkview, GA / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 13 / POS: 4   After launching a HR yesterday, ‘23 SS Colin Houck (@colin_houck) continues to be a force at the plate. He ties the game up in the first inning for @ViewBoysGA with a solo HR. #PBRBombSquad @ShooterHunt #GDC pic.twitter.com/myYoRWutP9 — PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) February 26, 2022

Landon Stripling 3B / OF / Parkview , GA / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 29 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 230 / POS: 10   #Mercer 23’ 1B Landon Stripling(@ViewBoysGA) easily has one of the sweetest swings in the state of GA. Hips start the hands in swing, leg kick triggers the hand+chest to separate, stretches the chest+hands into launch position so they stay moving just til he lands… lift offff! pic.twitter.com/Sle8ZUoF8P — PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) February 27, 2022

Garrett Lambert RHP / 1B / Parkview, GA / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 46 / POS: 16 OverallRank: 464 / POS: 147   #Mercer 23’ RHP Garrett Lambert(@ViewBoysGA) showing rhythm & confidence early tonight w/ good direction from a very strong frame. FB(88-89 T90) with natural cut, CB(70-72) late bite 2 plane depth+holds FB trajectory well. Going to be a dude in college. pic.twitter.com/Y9Vy6TG96Z — PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) February 27, 2022

Ali Banks OF / 3B / Parkview, GA / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 144 / POS: 20   23’ 3B Ali Banks(@ViewBoysGA) shows an awesome approach w/ runners on. No stride, early load so he stays ready(doesn’t have to get ready), sees it deep. Lines one to RF and zooooms around the bases for a 3 bagger! pic.twitter.com/IAU460ZwKF — PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) February 27, 2022

The Panthers are loaded on the mound with lefty duo Ford Thompson and Porter Berryman, followed by righty Thorpe Musci and Jon Holcomb. We are excited to see Berryman for his sophomore season. If he can step up and compete at the varsity level the Panthers will be set on the mound. Freshman Malachi Washington is one of the top freshmen in the country, so he could also help the already so deep Panthers line up. The Panthers will head south at the end of the month for a nationally ranked match up against Tampa Jesuit. Coach Chan Brown expects big things from the 2023 squad, and will try to put them in the best position possible to be holding the trophy at the end of the year.