2026 High School Team Preview: Whitewater Wildcats

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: Whitewater Wildcats
Head Coach: Brandon Crumbley
Classification: GHSA Class 3A
Region: 2-3A
2025 Record (Finish): 23-12, Swet 16
Returning starters: 5
Team Strengths: Pitching depth.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Wildcats finished in the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth year in a row and look to make a deeper run in ‘26 as Coach Crumbley returns a deep roster with talent throughout. It all starts with LHP/1B Trey Robbins who finished the year with 100 strikeouts in 50 innings, as the ace of the club and lives in the mid 90’s with ability to manipulate a slider off it. The Houston commit will be a pivotal piece in the heart of the order with real impact in the barrel as well. Senior OF Paxton Benoit (CACC commit) and junior OF Brenden Sholar furnish the outfield defense and supply high-level bat-to-ball skills to the top of the lineup. More two-way production comes from committed ‘26s RHP/1B Xander Sholar (Lawson State) and SS/RHP Brandon Campbell (Lawson State) who bring quality hit/power combos to the middle-of-the-order while providing key innings to the staff as well. RHP/1B Xander Sholar lives in the low 90’s and has a chance to be an x-factor on the mound as a high-leverage arm out of the pen. Senior INF/RHP Landen Johnston gives two-way value with a chance to hold an important role. A key piece in the middle-of-the-order is 3B/RHP Camren Naggles who started a season ago and provides a hit/power threat with obvious physicality in the box. Naggles bolsters the depth of the pitching staff as he sits in the mid 80’s with pitchability and plenty of upside. Fellow uncommitted upperclassmen ‘26 LHP Hunter Gratzer and ‘27 RHP Mason Keele hold down spots in the rotation and bring a veteran presence. Gratzer also has a chance to provide consistency out of the corner infield spot when not on the mound. Rounding out the senior class is 2026 OF Cayden Shirley and 2026 C Colten Davis both who strengthen the depth of the lineup and look to be dependable bats on a nightly basis. Junior 2B/RHP Gage Ayers holds two-way value and could be tasked with a larger role this season. A trio of sophomores including OF/RHP Rylan Laney, INF/RHP Braylon Bolton, and C/INF Michael Temples all started a season ago as freshmen and did nothing but show well in our looks this Fall as they appear poised to carry important roles once again. While Laney and Bolton offer value on the mound as well. Dual-sport athlete, OF Chase Davenport, boasts tons of athleticism and is armed with “gamer” qualities as he aims to carve out a role. Two more underclassmen including 2028 UTL Marco Filotei and 2029 LHP/1B Griffin Richards look to earn some quality playing time and gain experience. Coach Crumbley and staff fully expect a deep playoff run with a shot at the 3A State Title behind a deep pitching staff and talent littered amongst the upperclass/underclass group.

Find more information on the 2026 Whitewater program below:

+ Follow them on X: @WHSWildcatbsbal
+ 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