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: Southside Panthers
Head Coach: Kevin Vinson
Classification & Area Number: Class 6A, Area 14
2025 Record (Finish): 22-12 (1st Round)

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• SS Abe Martin (Gadsden State CC, 2026)
• 1B Alex Brewer (2026)
• INF Carson McGraw (2026)
• UTL Shelby Houston (2027)
• OF Eli Stewart (2026)
• 3B Ethan Sarratt (2027)
• OF Will Stapleton (2027)
• C Kolby Dodd (2027)
• C/UTL Kolt Johnson (2028)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• OF Griffin Frazier (2028)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Southside enters the 2026 season coming off a strong 22-12 campaign that ended in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs against top-ranked Hartselle. Despite the early exit, the Panthers showed the ability to compete with high-level opponents throughout the spring while relying on a young roster, and that experience now carries over to a group returning older and more prepared for another postseason push in 6A Area 14.

The Panthers bring back a large core of position players who logged meaningful varsity time in 2025. SS Abe Martin (Gadsden State CC, 2026) returns as a key piece up the middle, providing experience and stability at shortstop. 1B Alex Brewer (2026) and INF Carson McGraw (2026) add senior leadership and continuity in the infield, while OF Eli Stewart (2026) returns as an experienced option in the outfield. The junior class provides additional depth and flexibility with UTL Shelby Houston (2027), 3B Ethan Sarratt (2027), OF Will Stapleton (2027), and C Kolby Dodd (2027) all expected to play important roles across the diamond. Behind the plate and around the field, C/UTL Kolt Johnson (2028) returns after gaining valuable experience as an underclassman. The underclass group continues to add depth, highlighted by OF Griffin Frazier (2028), who joins a roster already built around returning contributors with varsity experience. With many players capable of filling multiple roles, Southside has flexibility as it sorts out lineup combinations entering the season.

Defense and athleticism stand out as defining strengths for the Panthers heading into 2026. With returning experience at key positions and a roster that has already been tested against strong competition, Southside looks positioned to build on last season’s progress. As head coach Kevin Vinson noted, “Really excited about the group we have this year. The players have done everything I have asked this offseason in the weight room and on the field, and I hope to see it pay off for them with their performance on the field.” With another year of development and a battle-tested core back in place, Southside enters the 2026 season aiming to compete consistently and push deeper into the postseason in Class 6A.

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Find more information on the 2026 Southside High School (Gadsden) program below:

+ Follow them on X or Facebook: @SouthsidePanth1 | Southside Panther Baseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2026 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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