2026 High School Team Previews: Volume III - Northern IN Focus
January 26, 2026
With the spring fast approaching, our staff has turned the focus to preparing for the 2026 spring season. Read along to find previews on a handful of programs that have already submitted their preseason questionnaire, with this crop focused on programs near our northern border.
All information has been provided to us through our preseason coaches questionnaire, please email [email protected] if you have not received this poll and are a varsity head coach in the state of Indiana.
South Bend Saint Joseph Huskies
Head Coach: John Smolinski
Class: 3A 
2025 Record: 24-7
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/3
2026 Team Strengths:
Pitching Depth, Returners on the offensive side
Impact Players:
- Jacob Snyder, RHP, 2026, Ohio Northern
9-1 W/L, 2.31 ERA, 57.2 IP, 64 K, 18 BB - AJ LaSane, SS, 2027
.435 avg, 9 2B, 1 HR, 47 hits, 37 RBI, 19 SB - Josiah Gustine, C/1B, 2026, Wheaton
.357 avg, 7 2B, 30 hits - Dallas Downey, CF, 2026
.346 avg, 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 27 hits - Franco Biffle, INF, 2026
.260 avg, 4 2B, 2 HR, 13 hits - Julian Cosey, RHP, 2027
2-0 W/L, 5.86 ERA, 14.1 IP, 16 K - Townes Cinninger, LHP/OF, 2029
- William Sollman, C, 2029
- Eli Allison, RHP, 2029
New Prairie Cougars
Head Coach: Mark Schellinger
Class: 3A 
2025 Record: 21-9
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/5
2026 Team Strengths:
Experience, Pitching Experience, Athleticism
Impact Players:
- Reed Robinson, C/UTL, 2026, Northern Illinois
*2x 3A 1st Team All-State --- .460 avg, 9 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 40 hits, 21 SB - Sullivan Kress, RHP/OF, 2026, Saint Xavier
.321 avg, 2 2B, 1 3B, 26 hits, 10 SB --- 5-5 W/L, 2.75 ERA, 51 IP, 68 K - Colton Griffiths, RHP/1B, 2026, Bethel
.171 avg, 4 2B, 7 hits --- 8-1 W/L, 3.10 ERA, 58.2 IP, 41 K - Dylan Bishop, RHP/INF, 2026
.266 avg, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 20 hits, 12 SB --- 2-1 W/L, 4.38 ERA, 16 IP, 28 K - Jagger Daniels, UTL, 2027
.250 avg, 2 2B, 1 3B, 18 hits - Giovanni Naccarato, SS, 2027
.186 avg, 11 hits
South Bend Adams Eagles
Head Coach: Michael Cass
Class: 4A
2025 Record: 9-20
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3/3
2026 Outlook:
Team Leadership
Impact Players:
- Weston Hoke, UTL, 2026
.395 avg, 6 2B, 30 hits --- 1-2 W/L, 2.92 ERA, 12 IP, 11 K - Ben Piechocki, RHP/1B, 2026
.382 avg, 3 2B, 26 hits --- 0-2 W/L, 16.06 ERA, 5.2 IP - Kainen Smith, SS, 2026
.340 avg, 3 2B, 17 hits - Jimmy Seitz, LHP, 2027
0-0 W/L, 7.29 ERA, 16 IP - Cayden Keen, 3B, 2028
.283 avg, 2 2B, 15 hits - Max Palmer, MIF, 2028
Elkhart Lions
Head Coach: Scott Rost
Class: 4A
2025 Record: 15-12
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3/3
2026 Team Strengths:
Seniors
Impact Players:
- Max Shreiner, C, 2026, Franklin
.452 avg, 7 2B, 9 HR, 33 hits, 33 RBI - Brodey Weaver, LHP/1B, 2026
.308 avg, 6 2B, 24 hits --- 0-3 W/L, 4.61 ERA, 27.1 IP, 24 K - Trevor Hilliard, RHP/SS, 2026
3-1 W/L, 1.17 ERA, 39 IP, 29 K - Logan Kelly, OF, 2027
- Wyatt Claeys, RHP/3B, 2028
Winamac Warriors
Head Coach: Mark Hendryx
Class: 2A 
2025 Record: 15-12
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/1
2026 Team Strengths:
Hitting and Defense
Impact Players:
- Xavier Adriano, C, 2028
.288 avg, 5 2B, 1 HR, 15 hits - Hutch Martin, INF/RHP, 2028
.316 avg, 5 2B, 24 hits --- 4.1 IP in 2 appearances - Cody Wheeler, 1B/RHP, 2027
.328 avg, 6 2B, 21 hits --- 3-1 W/L, 3.14 ERA, 29 IP, 38 K - Will Malchow, OF, 2026
.224 avg, 4 2B, 17 hits, 14 SB - Kaden Runk, UTL/RHP, 2026
.275 avg, 11 hits --- 2.2 IP in 4 appearances - Carter Ulerick, OF/P, 2026
- Charles Cottrell, OF/P, 2026
- Bryant Galbreath, SS, 2029
Eastside Blazers
Head Coach: Cade Willard
Class: 2A
2025 Record: 14-13
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/3
2026 Team Strengths:
Pitching Depth, Team Speed, OF Defense
Impact Players:
- Bo Martin, P/SS, 2028
.221 avg, 17 hits, 2 2B, 1 HR --- 27.1 IP, 39 K, 2.04 ERA - Wyatt Shull, P/IF, 2027
.305 avg, 25 hits, 3 2B, 23 RBI --- 29.2 IP, 34 ER, 42 K - William McCreery, OF, 2026
.288 avg, 15 hits - Gabe Guerra, C/P, 2026
.196 avg, 10 hits, 2 2B, 1 HR --- 13 IP, 6 ER, 17 K - Bryan Cuenca, OF/IF, 2026
.240 avg, 12 hits, 2 2B - Eli Hankey, IF, 2027
.278 avg, 20 hits, 3 2B - Andrew McClain, IF, 2029
John Glenn Falcons
Head Coach: John Nadolny
Class: 3A
2025 Record: 12-13
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/8
2026 Team Strengths:
Returning Experience
Impact Players:
- Mekhi Pulluaim, OF, 2027
.347 avg, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR - Gabe Goodsell, C/1B, 2026
.355 avg, 6 2B, 1 HR, 22 hits - Brayden Benwell, 3B/RHP, 2026
.299 avg, 4 2B, 1 HR, 23 hits --- 1-4 W/L, 2.87 ERA, 31.2 IP, 34 K - Colin Hamel, RHP/MIF, 2028
.273 avg, 9 hits --- 3.18 ERA in 11 IP, 14 K - Archer Rust, RHP/MIF, 2028
.299 avg, 8 2B, 20 hits --- 2-2 W/L, 4.71 ERA, 19.1 IP, 15 K - Gavin Bowman, OF, 2026
.259 avg, 14 hits - James Messer, 1B/LHP, 2027
4.59 ERA in 10.2 IP - Tanner Tropp, RHP, 2028
5.60 ERA in 10 IP
Triton Trojans
Head Coach: Mark Elliott
Class: 1A
2025 Record: 20-10
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/
2026 Team Strengths:
Pitching, Experience
Impact Players:
- Drew Bingamon, P/OF, 2026
*2x 1A 1st Team All-State --- .420 avg, 4 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 26 SB --- 7-3 W/L, 1.93 ERA, 61.2 IP, 85 K - Braxton Kaufman, P/2B, 2026
.310 avg, 13 2B, 2 3B, 17 SB --- 3-3 W/L, 3.93 ERA, 46.1 IP, 59 K - Max Johnson, C, 2028
.340 avg, 7 2B, 22 RBI - Levi McFarland, P/SS, 2028
.318 avg, 1 2B, 18 RBI --- 2-4 W/L, 6.34 ERA, 32 IP, 41 K
Eastbrook Panthers
Head Coach: Kris Holtzleiter
Class: 2A 
2025 Record: 17-12
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/4
2026 Team Strengths:
Depth on both sides of the ball, Team Speed
Impact Players:
- Blake Jacobs, INF/RHP, 2028
.347 avg, 4 2B, 26 hits, 21 SB --- 1-1 W/L, 2.66 ERA, 23.2 IP, 34 K - Austin Mikel, OF/LHP, 2027
.275 avg, 2 2B, 22 hits --- 4-2 W/L, 2.46 ERA, 37 IP, 41 K - Kyler Hackman, SS/RHP, 2027
.394 avg, 7 2B, 1 3B, 37 hits, 26 RBI --- 3-2 W/L, 2.81 ERA, 32.1 IP, 30 K - Malaki Luthy, OF/RHP, 2027
.362 avg, 3 2B, 1 3B, 34 hits, 40 runs, 30 SB --- 1-0 W/L, 4.53 ERA, 17 IP, 16 K - Jacob McDermit, OF, 2027
.371 avg, 6 2B, 36 hits, 21 SB - Ryder Gipson, C/INF, 2026
.265 avg, 3 2B, 18 hits, 20 SB - Kavion Martin, LHP/1B, 2027