2026 High School Team Preview: Crisp County

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: Crisp County Cougars
Head Coach: Kyle Kirk
Classification: GHSA Class 2A
Region: 3-2A
2024 Record (Finish): 16-21, Elite 8
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6
Team Strengths: Pitching and Defense

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Cougars held a 5-16 record at one point last year and got hot down the stretch resulting in an Elite Eight finish. Head coach Kyle Kirk and company look to carry the momentum from last season into this upcoming Spring backed by strong pitching and defense. Senior two-way SS/RHP Dawson Coleman leads the way for the Cougars while filling multiple roles. The Gordon State commit will be a fixture in the starting rotation as well as bringing high-level bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the box and anchoring the infield defense up-the-middle. Uncommitted 2026 INF/C/RHP Payton Chadwick will be a consistent stick in the lineup from the left-side while providing defensive value at multiple positions and offering value on the mound as well. Senior Gordon State commit RHP Mike Cunningham will be a fixture in the rotation as he brings invaluable senior experience and solid pitchability to the staff. Uncommitted 2027 LHP/OF/1B Bryson Brown rounds out the rotation and is armed with a strong hit-tool from the left-side while being a versatile defensive piece for the club. Athleticism comes by the way of senior INF Jordan Fox who just recently earned first team all-state along with first team all-region honors for football and can affect the game in a multitude of ways. The senior class is polished off by Jaden Freeman as he holds strong experience and strengthens the depth. Junior two-sport athlete Caden Lofton secures the outfield defense in CF and supplies athleticism to the lineup. 2027 1B Brody Stephens holds immense strength in an ultra-physical 6-foot-4, 280-pound frame and looks to provide consistency from the corner infield spot. Coach Kirk has a versatile group with an experienced veteran presence that has a chance to make some noise in a tough region 3-2A.

Find more information on the 2026 High School Season program below:

+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2026 Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL GEORGIA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Georgia on X
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Facebook
+ Podcast: Peach Fuzz on YouTube

UPCOMING EVENTS