2026 High School Team Preview: Newnan 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: Newnan Cougars
Head Coach: Marc Gilmore
Classification: GHSA Class 6A
Region: 3-6A
2024 Record (Finish): 32-5, State Champions
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
Team Strengths: Pitching depth and defense

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

It was a banner year for Newnan in 2025 with their first state championship in 30+ years alongside producing a first-round draft pick in SS Dax Kilby, and like coach Marc Gilmore said this offseason the Cougars aren’t a sleeper program anymore. The path to repeating next spring starts with 2025 Future Gamer and one of the premier two-ways in the state, junior RHP/SS Hayes Maginnis. The Arkansas commit will be SP1 as well leading off for the Cougars and brings the type of the winning mentality to lead a squad backed by all-state production. Another junior and power-four commit in 3B/OF Brodie Campbell will be vital after making big strides as a sophomore and the Georgia commit could be one of the major power sources in this lineup throughout the spring. Uncommitted junior 1B/C Caden Truitt is another player who came into their own as a sophomore and could prove to be an important middle-of-the-order stick while providing defensive value at multiple positions. Speaking of defense, Newnan has an asset behind the dish in uncommitted senior C Reid Davis who brings advanced blocking and receiving, while showing a high on-base profile at the plate. Pitching will be a strength for the Cougars with Maginnis leading the charge but look for a pair of high-pitchability sophomores LHP Hunter Holmstrom and Wryson Davis to bring quality innings in starting roles with potential breakout in junior RHP Gordon Sambdman looking poised for that SP2 role. Bullpen will be equally strong, led by uncommitted senior RHP Ben Roche, who brings invaluable experience with some funk from a higher slot and look for junior RHP Evan Russell to make a big impact with high-octane stuff after missing last spring. There’s talent in the right places for Coach Gilmore the Cougars and will be ready for another big spring. Northgate and McIntosh will push for the region, but look for Newnan to be favorites coming in with expectations potentially even higher than that.

Find more information on the 2026 Newnan Cougars program below:

+ Follow them on X: @NewnanBaseball
+ 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