Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 7 Parkview


Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director

The Georgia High School Association has announced that opening day of the 2021 season will commence on Feb. 15. Programs were allowed to begin practicing in an official capacity on Jan. 18, meaning it's time for the PBR Georgia staff to break down the high school baseball scene in the state in the countdown to the first pitch thrown in 2021.Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2021 spring season, touching on programs spanning multiple state classifications, counting down the official PBR Georgia Preseason Power 25 Rankings.



Team: Parkview
Preseason Rank:
7
2020 Record:
13-2
Region: 4-7A
GHSA Classification: 7A
Head Coach: Chan Brown
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 6

KEY PLAYERS LOST
Name State School Class Pos Commitment
Miles Garrett GA Parkview 2020 RHP Vanderbilt
Xander Stephens GA Parkview 2020 RHP Georgia Tech
Jonathan Ponder GA Parkview 2020 OF Georgia State
Pascanel Ferreras GA Parkview 2020 SS Western Carolina
Jack Davis GA Parkview 2020 C North Georgia
Graham Yntema GA Parkview 2020 LHP Lawson State CC
TOP PLAYERS
Name State School Class Pos Commitment
Ryan Spikes GA  Parkvew 2021 SS/RHP Tennessee
Mason Brown GA Parkview 2021 LHP Kennesaw State
Cade Sadler GA Parkview 2021 1B Walters State
Bryson Stripling GA PArkview 2021 C Morehead State
Ethan Lail GA Parkview 2021 RHP/OF Piedmont
Dobbs Bowden GA Parkview 2021 OF  
Daylon Carleton GA Parkview 2021 OF/LHP  
Sam Smith GA Parkview 2021 OF/CIF  
Colin Houck GA Parkview 2023 SS/RHP  
Jabari Daniely GA Parkview 2022 1B/DH  
Dylan Speakman GA Parkview 2021 RHP/OF South Georgia State JC
Ryan Bennett GA Parkview 2021 INF  
Jake Keener GA Parkview 2021 C  
Ryan Wade GA Parkview 2021 OF/RHP  
Jordan Lowery GA Parkview 2021 RHP  
Cayden Gaskin GA Parkview 2022 2B/SS  
Jayden Talik GA Parkview 2022 OF/RHP  
TOP NEWCOMERS
Name State School Class Pos Commitment
Ethan Davis GA Parkview 2022 RHP
Matthew Holcomb GA Parkview 2022 RHP  
Preston Morgan GA Parkview 2022 RHP/INF  
Andrew Opata GA Parkview 2022 OF  
Ryan Schatte GA Parkview 2022 LHP  
Wyatt Talik GA Parkview 2022 C/OF  
Tanner Wagnon GA Parkview 2022 1B/OF  
Garrett Lambert GA Parkview 2023 RHP  
Landon Stripling GA Parkview 2023 1B/RHP  
Sam Ward GA Parkview 2023 C/OF  
Ali Banks GA Parkview 2023 3B  
Cade Brown GA Parkview 2024 3B  
Thorpe Musci GA Parkview 2024 RHP  
Ford Thompson GA Parkview 2024 OF/LHP  

X-FACTOR
The pitching staff. Despite losing two of the top arms in the state to graduation, Coach Chan Brown believes the focal point of the team will be the arms. He has two bonafide starters, and is searching for a third, but there is plenty of depth to find one.

Kennesaw State commit LHP Mason Brown (2021) took a huge step forward last season. In 17.0 IP, he compiled a 3-0 record with 25 strikeouts, two walks, and an incredible 0.00 ERA. Brown will be back to headline the rotation. He is a high pitch-ability arm that pounds the zone. Brown has good feel for a fastball, sitting in the mid-80s, and his secondary offerings. Look for him to pick up right where he left off. 

The dynamic Tennessee commit SS/RHP Ryan Spikes (2021) will step up into the rotation as spending last season coming out of the bullpen as the closer. Spikes has a quick, strong arm, working into the 90s with his fastball. He can also spin his fastball over for a strike consistently. 

A primary catcher, Morehead State commit C/RHP Bryson Stripling (2021) was a surprise on the mound for the Panthers last season. He collected two saves, throwing just over three innings, striking out four and walking zero. Stripling will be a key piece of the bullpen. Piedmont commit RHP/OF Ethan Lail (2021) will see time on the mound after being primarily a position player last season. The Panthers also have RHP Jordan Lowery (2021) and South Georgia State JC commit RHP Dylan Speakman (2021). And that is just the senior class of arms who are expected to contribute on the mound.

Among the underclassmen, SS/RHP Colin Houck (2023) is the only player who has varsity experience on the mound. Houck will be an every day starter on the left side of the infield, so his role may be limited to appearances out of the bullpen.

OF/RHP Jayden Talik (2022) and RHP Matthew Holcomb (2022) look poised to be able to help the pitching staff in one form or another. RHP Garrett Lambert (2023) and 1B/RHP Landon Stripling (2023) both have been on the rise and could factor in. Then there are two very interesting freshmen that could get some looks. RHP Thorpe Musci (2024) is one of the top rated pitchers in Georgia for his class. He has a low to mid 80s fastball and a swing and miss slider.

Thorpe Musci

The other freshman would be LHP/OF Ford Thompson (2024). Thompson has great feel on the mound and can pound the zone with a nice fastball and changeup combination. The last time we saw him out, in September, he was up to 83 with his fastball and there are no signs of slowing down.  If he does not make an impact this year, he certainly will next year and beyond.

Ford Thompson

These are some of the potential arms that Coach Brown has to work with. He has a decision to make when it comes to who will be the number three starter, but there is a lot of depth here for him to find the right fit.

OUTLOOK
Parkview will look to become the first ever 7A team to three-peat as GHSA State Champions. As we detailed in the X-Factor, this team will go as far as the pitching can take them. They have two headliners cemented in the pitching staff with Spikes and Brown. Then there is a plethora of arms who will be given an opportunity to win that third spot or a position in the bullpen. So, they will depth there.

The lineup will be a bit younger, but as dangerous as ever. Spikes is one of the top bats in the country and will anchor the lineup. He is a dangerous weapon that can hit for power and average. He has also has the speed to affect a game on the base paths.

Ryan Spikes

He will be surrounded by some heavy hitters. Walters State commit 1B Cade Sadler (2021) and OF/CIF Sam Smith (2021) both swing big sticks and can impact the game with their power. You can't count OF Dobbs Bowden (2021) out to make a splash at the plate either, after he hit two homeruns and two doubles while collecting 10 RBIs and seven runs scored in the shortened 202 season.

Sam Smith

One of the state's top sophomore shortstops, Houck looks to build upon his freshman campaign. He has a chance to have a breakout spring after making huge strides across the board over the last 12 month. He saw time on the left-side of the infield last year and will stick there this season. Houck was a bit light with the bat last year, but he made considerable progress and could be a force this season.

Colin Houck

OF Daylon Carleton (2021) could be considered somewhat of a newcomer to the team after missing his junior year with injury. He was a regular face in the lineup as a sophomore. His return adds a spark to the lineup and some more veteran leadership. Carleton has big game experienced under his belt.

Daylon Carleton

As we mentioned earlier, Jayden Talik looks ready to help on the mound, well the same goes for in the field and at the plate. His brother, C/OF Wyatt Talik (2022), also looks like he has made the necessary jumps to help as well. Then there is 1B/DH Jabari Daniely (2022) who can add another power bat to the lineup. Daniely has an aggressive swing with power to the gaps and pull-side.

Jabari Daniely

C/OF Sam Ward (2023) and 3B Cade Brown (2024) are two names of the future who could end up being assets this season. Ward has a powerful stroke at the plate and is a capable defensive catcher. Brown has gap-to-gap power with future potential to be a big power guy at the plate. He is a disciplined hitter who may be up for the challenge on the varsity level.
Cade Brown

The winning tradition at Parkview looks to be in good hands as the Panthers reload for the 2021 season. They make lack experience in some areas, but they will make up for that with talent and depth. Do not be surprised to see Parkview playing deep into May.

Make sure to follow @PBRGeorgia on Twitter for the most-up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.

Find more information on the 2021 Panthers below:

Full Schedule
Team Website
Team Twitter

Preseason Power 25 Countdown