2026 High School Team Preview: Brookstone School Cougars

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 Georgia.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the GHSA or GIAA state playoffs, 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 Georgia. 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 GHSA classification and Power 25.

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 GHSA 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: Brookwstone School Cougars
Head Coach: Greg Mathis
Classification: GIAA Class 4A
Region: 5-4A
2025 Record (Finish): 28-6, State Champions
Team Strengths: Pitching and defense.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Cougars bring a ton of excitement and expectations heading into 2026 as back-to-back defending GIAA State Champions. With a stable of talented arms and bats ready to step up, Coach Mathis knows what it takes to bring a three-peat to Columbus. Junior SS/RHP Brennan Neal is the engine that makes this team go as the returning GIAA Player of the Year. The Auburn commit holds an immense two-way profile that produced staggering numbers (98 K in 60 IP, 0.92 ERA; .366, 17 XBH) as a sophomore and has an even greater ceiling to tap into this spring. Seniors in RHP Luke Vael and OF/RHP Luke Lowery combined for 67 IP last spring with quality results and give the Cougars tremendous experience behind Neal in the rotation. Look for Lowery to be a main piece in the lineup and CF as well as one of the top returning bats after hitting .333 with 28 RBI as a junior. Senior C Gray Jones returns after hitting .371 while leading Brookstone in RBI (29) and brings the high-floor defensive profile to handle a veteran pitching staff like this. Juniors in OF Ben Ivey and OF Harrison Baker return to fill bigger roles this spring and look for another junior in 3B/1B Nick Hatchell to settle into a significant role in the infield with ability to contribute early with the stick. With some key veterans graduated, this team will have to step up early but Coach Mathis has the winning mindset and will have this roster ready for battle come February 18th.

Find more information on the 2026 High School Season.
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2026 Team Previews

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UPCOMING EVENTS