The 2026 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement is building throughout Iowa. 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 Iowa.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Carroll or Cedar Rapids at the IHSAA 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A State Tournaments, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to shine a spotlight on all teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Iowa.

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 Diamond Notes, covering all the bases across the state of Iowa.

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Johnston Dragons

High School: Johnston
Head Coach: Nathan Buckallew
Class: Class 4A
2025 Record (Finish): 26-12 (State Quarterfinal)

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

+ Max Mincks - Iowa Central CC commit

+ Sam Kinney - Black Hawk JC commit

+ Ahvyance Taylor

+ Mason Tell - Iowa Central CC commit

+ Owen Hupfer

+ Kaleb Kosman - Morningside commit

+ Adam Callen - NICC commit

+ Will Davies - Iowa Central CC commit

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

+ Tyler Crandell

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ALUMNI IN COLLEGE

+ Miles Risley - Iowa

+ Jake Pemble - Missouri Western State

+ Jackie Smith - Grand View

+ Cooper Smith - Grand View

+ Pierce Anderson - Grand View

+ Ben Kinsey - Buena Vista

+ Xander Poock - Central

+ Caden Wilson - Mount Mercy

+ Carter Woollums - Illinois State

+ Adrian Broadus - Kirkwood

+ Adam Kayko - Kirkwood

+ Cole Kinman - Kirkwood

+ Blake Lundholm - Kirkwood

+ Rafe McConnell - Kirkwood

+ Cade Ogden - Iowa Central

+ Tyne Weeden - Kirkwood

+ Carson Crabb - Iowa Central

+ Conner Culp - St. Scholastica

+ Sam Kemmer - DMACC

+ Will Nuss - Kirkwood

+ Kyler Steck - Mount Mercy

+ Rico Valdez - Central

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TEAM OUTLOOK

“I really like our team. I think we will be very deep offensively and put together really good at bats all the way through the order. Have a ton of experience on the offensive side. Our pitching staff is a mix of returning guys and new comers that I think could mold into being a really good staff. The state is loaded with talent, so we will have to play great baseball every single game. ” – Nathan Buckallew, head coach

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Find more information on the 2026 Johnston program below:

+ Follow them on X: @JohnstonDragons
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Iowa 2026 HS Team Previews

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FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL IOWA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Iowa on X
+ Prep Baseball Iowa on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Iowa on Facebook

 

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