2026 High School Team Preview: Stratford Academy

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: Stratford Academy Eagles
Head Coach: Barret Veal
Classification: GHSA Class 4A
Region: 6-4A
2025 Record (Finish): 19-15, Quarterfinals
Team Strengths: Experience, depth

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

For a team that didn’t feature a senior last year, Coach Veal and the Eagles grew on leaps and bounds as a group in a playoff season and now come into 2026 with momentum and depth in all the right places. Senior RHP/1B Hayden Camps returns as SP1 for the Eagles as one of the unquestioned leaders with pitchability to match. Juniors RHP Casey Von Waldner and RHP Brayden Fritz are expected to slot in behind Camps for the 2nd year in a row and offers both stability and ability to make this rotation one of the biggest strengths on the team. Senior OF Ellis Bridges provides the senior leadership in the outfield while junior OF Brooks Stella took a massive step forward in 2025 and looks to be a focal point this spring. Three more juniors step back into starting roles this spring in C/2B Tate Johnston, INF Jaxen Justice, and SS/RHP Bobby Wooten looking to expand on their roles from last year with Wooten bringing an explosive all-around profile that will factor all over the diamond. Plenty of underclass impact this spring as well for the Eagles and with one to watch in two-way sophomore SS/RHP Colton Whittington, who brings some twitch and athleticism with a feel to hit. Reaching that 20 win mark with another playoff berth feels well within range for this roster, and I think there’s a ceiling for even more.

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

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

UPCOMING EVENTS