By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

The 2026 Collinsville baseball season was quite a memorable one. The Panthers clinched their first baseball state quarterfinal appearance in 25 years, and they finished the season at 26-7.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association took notice of what a special season Collinsville had. Three of their players made the Class 3A All-State First Team, including Player of the Year Gavin Lang.

In all, 11 area baseball players received all-state recognition. The ASWA All-State Baseball Teams were released early Saturday morning.

Lang batted .596 with six home runs, 20 doubles, a triple, 14 walks, 51 runs, and 61 RBIs. As a pitcher, the junior went 8-2 on the mound with 105 strikeouts and a 3.14 ERA in 62 1/3 innings.

The Panthers also had two other first team selections in junior catcher Jeremiah Killian and junior utility player Mason McAteer.

Killian batted .447 with seven home runs, 11 doubles, two triples, 23 walks, 20 runs, and 46 RBIs.

McAteer managed a .376 average with five home runs, 11 doubles, 22 walks, 52 runs, and 28 RBIs. He was also 7-2 on the mound with 58 strikeouts and a 3.58 ERA in 45 innings.

Also in Class 3A, the Piedmont Bulldogs (31-9) had their deepest playoff run since 2022 with an appearance in the state semifinals. They had a first team pitcher in sophomore Cole Austin and an honorable mention in sophomore pitcher Carson Cleveland.

Austin went 11-1 with 97 strikeouts and a 1.90 ERA in 77 1/3 innings. Cleveland was 8-3 with 56 strikeouts and a 2.60 ERA in 43 innings.

In Class 4A, the Cherokee County Warriors (14-15) had a pair of second team selections in sophomore pitcher Cam Mayo and junior outfielder Nate Black.

Mayo went 8-2 with 53 strikeouts and a 2.29 ERA in 55 innings. Black batted .318 with seven home runs, three doubles, 13 walks, 23 runs, and 20 RBIs for the Warriors.

In Class 1A, the Spring Garden Panthers (18-13) had two second teamers in junior catcher Brady Ruark and senior infielder Joel Hunter. The Panthers also had a pair of honorable mention players in senior outfielder Clayton Sadler and sophomore utility player Ben Baker.

Ruark batted .421 with five doubles, five walks, 22 stolen bases, 29 runs, and 28 RBIs. Hunter had a ,478 batting average with six doubles, four triples, a home run, 16 walks, 26 stolen bases, 44 runs, and 12 RBIs.

Sadler batted .436 with 12 doubles, nine stolen bases, eight walks, 24 runs, and 30 RBIs. Baker batted .419 with 13 doubles, three home runs, three triples, 11 walks, 16 stolen bases, 33 runs, and 32 RBIs. He was also 5-4 on the mound with a pair of saves, 73 strikeouts, and a 2.96 ERA in 47 1/3 innings.

The complete ASWA All-State Baseball Teams list can be found on weisradio.com.