Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2026 Elmore County Panthers Team Preview

February 8, 2026
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

The 2026 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: Elmore County Panthers
Head Coach: Michael Dismukes
Classification & Area Number: Class 5A Area 6
2025 Record (Finish): 26-11 (Sweet 16)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

OF/LHP Shelton Darnell (4/11/25)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

  • UTL Jameyson Davis (2028)
  • INF Sawyer Dutton (2029)
  • UTL Beau Traylor (2028)
  • INF Braxton Burke (2028)

OTHER UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

  • INF/RHP Kason Moe (2027)
  • INF Ross Pike (2027)
  • INF Landon Doucette (2027)

TEAM OUTLOOK

Elmore County enters the 2026 season coming off a strong 2025 campaign that saw the Panthers finish 26-11, win the Area 6 championship, and reach the Sweet 16. The group showed balance on both sides of the ball a year ago, hitting 21 home runs as a team while posting a 2.85 team ERA, and that formula sets the tone again heading into this spring. With a veteran core returning and plenty of varsity experience throughout the lineup, Elmore County looks positioned to remain a factor in Class 5A.

The backbone of this team is a senior-heavy group of position players and arms that served as the catalyst in 2025. SS/RHP Gage Davis (2026) returns as the spark plug of the club and a key piece on both sides of the ball. OF/LHP Shelton Darnell (2026) brings a combination of speed and power that will play a major role in the lineup, while also contributing on the mound. 1B/LHP Evan Spence (2026) is another middle-of-the-order presence who provides power and will be counted on heavily for production and leadership. The senior class is rounded out by OF/RHP Hunter Denham (2026), OF/LHP Thomas Payton (2026), and 1B Joseph Roberts (2026), giving the Panthers experience and depth across the field. The next wave includes INF/RHP Kason Moe (2027), INF/RHP Ross Pike (2027), and INF Landon Doucette (2027), along with a group of underclassmen ready to grow into larger roles, including UTL Jameyson Davis (2028), UTL Beau Traylor (2028), INF Braxton Burke (2028), and INF Sawyer Dutton (2029).

Looking ahead, Elmore County’s strengths are built around speed, experience, pitching, and defense, with a roster that brings back proven contributors from an area championship team. The leadership of the senior class will be central to setting the tone and keeping the Panthers in the hunt throughout a demanding 5A schedule. As head coach Michael Dismukes put it, “We want to play winning baseball, and the leadership of our upper classmen will provide an opportunity for success in the 2026 season.” With that foundation in place, Elmore County will look to turn experience and balance into another deep postseason push.

Find more information below:

+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2026 HS Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL ALABAMA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

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

 

Related Content