2026 High School Team Preview: Darlington Tigers

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: Darlington Tigers
Head Coach: Matt Larry
Classification: GHSA Class A Div-1
Region: 6-A D1
2025 Record (Finish): 14-14, First Round
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6
Team Strengths: Experience and Potential power in lineup

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

It’ll be trial by fire on the mound as the Tigers replace a majority of innings but offer some quality versatility throughout an experienced, gritty lineup as they look to improve on a .500 season from a year ago. Senior 2B/RHP Mac Cannon and junior RHP/OF Cooper Norris are two of the most important returning starters for Darlington as they look for bigger opportunities as potentially the top two arms in the rotation while holding down every day spots in the lineup. Senior 1B/3B Henry Ledbetter is one of the few committed upperclassmen on the roster, providing invaluable leadership while being the one of the top power bats in the region. A key way this lineup improves this spring is the growth of junior C Jackson Loy, whose improvements across the entire profile helped earn a D1 commitment this summer (UAB) and now looks poised to be one of the main contributors for the Tigers. Another junior in uncommitted SS/C Thomas Hargett can provide versatility at some premium positions with consistency and upside at the top of the lineup. Some underclass names to watch who can provide value for this lineup early include a trio of sophomores in INF Knox Merritt, OF Wilson Lucas, and SS/RHP Jayden Mathis. With defense and a power as a strength, Coach Larry will have the Tigers ready to roll to spring.

Learn more about the 2026 High School Baseball season.
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2026 Team Previews

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UPCOMING EVENTS