2026 High School Team Preview: Pope Greyhounds

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: Pope Greyhounds
Head Coach: Chris Turco
Classification: GHSA Class 5A
Region: 6-5A
2025 Record (Finish): 31-5, Elite 8
Team Strengths: Experienced staff, line up.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

Death, Taxes, and the Greyhounds making the Elite Eight. It’s what came to be expected in Marietta as Pope has reached at least that mark in each of the last 10 seasons (7 Final-Fours, 3 State championships). Coach Turco and this talented upperclassman group look ready to carry the tradition with an even higher ceiling in mind as they head into the spring. Pope returns two-thirds of their starting rotation from a year ago, led by senior LHP Nick Boborowski, who brings an immense feel to spin with pitchability alike and a bulldog demeanor that gives this team confidence every time he’s on the mound. Two more seniors in RHP Jacob Israel, who grew leaps and bounds last spring in the rotation and LHP/OF Ben Hill, who’s as battle-tested as you’ll find on the roster make up the rest of the starting staff. Lineup will be replacing some big production but return key multi-year starters to weather the storm. Senior C Drew Abney will be a fixture in the middle of the order with huge left-handed power that will be vital to the Greyhounds success. Another senior in 3B Kayden Campbell battled some injuries last year and will be looking for a big redemption year with one of the more well-rounded offensive profiles in the lineup. Former Future Gamer and junior SS Luke Winbush fits the model of past Pope stars to a tee. High-energy, “gamer” profile with above-average positional versatility with a hit/power combo that fits in the top of the lineup. C Jensen Morneau gives the Greyhounds quality depth behind the plate while the uncommitted junior offers one of the more advanced approaches on the team that will be a nightly lock for the lineup as well. Sophomore MIF Kingston Jones has made consistent strides the last few years and looks ready to make an instant impact for the Greyhounds this spring. A pair that could be x-factors for this team is junior 2B/3B Parker Troughton, who is likely to expand his role from last spring and sophomore OF/INF Cal Pearson, who has a chance for a major role as one of the few underclassmen on the roster with an all-around profile that has impact across the diamond. After stringing an outlandish 25-game win streak last spring in a tough region, an elite eight exit will give this team some added motivation heading into this spring and look to set the tone on opening day with the defending 4A State Champions, Blessed Trinity Titans coming into town.

Find more information on the 2026 Pope program below:

+ Follow them on X: @Pope_Baseball
+ 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