2026 High School Team Preview: Gatewood Gators

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: Gatewood Gators
Head Coach: Brandon Moss
Classification: GIAA Class 2A
Region: 2-2A
2025 Record (Finish): 24-9, State Champions
Team Strengths: Experience and team power. 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

Despite a young roster last spring, the Gators put together 24-wins en route to a GIAA 2A State Championship. Now over 70% of that roster returns with championship experience under their belt and look ready to strive for back-to-back rings. Senior OF/RHP Ben Brannen is only senior in the lineup this spring, and returns after a .303 season as well stepping into a potential bigger role on the mound with plenty of innings to be had in both the rotation and bullpen. A junior duo in INF Drew Love and OF Jack Wooten provide added experience in the lineup while expanding on their roles from last year’s team. The sophomore group has a chance to leave a lasting impact on this program, and it starts with LHP/1B Lawson Moore, who hit .408 with 12 XBH as a freshman and brings unquestioned raw power to the lineup with SP1 upside on the mound to match. 1B/RHP Jayden Moss may have been the most important piece in the lineup last spring with a team-high 9 HR while hitting .366 and has a good chance to be even better as a sophomore. C Connor Mitchem and INF/OF Brady Haley are two more sophomores who will be looked upon as key pieces this season after both hitting over .300 last spring in partial roles. Seven arms return who gained quality experience last spring in both starting and relief roles, and now understand what it takes to get it done at a championship level. Coach Moss understands what it takes at the big-league level, so I’d be certain the Gators will understand the expectations that they should face this season.

Find more information on the 2026 High School season below:
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2026 Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL GEORGIA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

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+ Podcast: Peach Fuzz on YouTube

UPCOMING EVENTS