2026 High School Team Previews: Volume VI
February 9, 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 featuring programs from across the state.
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.
Center Grove Trojans
Head Coach: Keith Hatfield
Class: 4A
2025 Record: 27-5
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/7
2026 Team Strengths:
Pitching, Infield Defense, Hitting, Team Speed
Impact Players:
- Gannon Grant, RHP/MIF, 2026, Tennessee
.376 avg, 3 2B, 1 HR, 32 hits, 26 RBI --- 8-0 W/L, 2.02 ERA, 58 K, 55.1 IP - Drake McClurg, OF, 2027, Texas A&M
.320 avg, 7 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 31 hits, 44 runs - Grady Grant, SS/RHP, 2027, TCU
.325 avg, 6 2B, 27 hits - Kellen Thomson, RHP, 2026, Ball State
5-0 W/L, 2.16 ERA, 48.2 IP, 34 K - Liam Delp, INF, 2027, Michigan
transfer from 4A Mooresville - .330 avg, 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 30 hits, 24 SB - Hudson Stewart, OF, 2026, Dayton
.319 avg, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 22 hits - Alex Gilliam, RHP/OF, 2027, Evansville
2-1 W/L, 4.45 ERA, 22 IP, 25 K - Tristan Yerman, C, 2026, Indiana Wesleyan
.222 avg, 5 2B, 1 3B, 14 hits - Reed Sawa, OF, 2026, Indiana Wesleyan
.175 avg, 2 2B, 7 hits - Andrew Murphy, RHP, 2026, IU-Kokomo
0-2 W/L, 1.50 ERA, 18.2 IP, 17 K - Eric McAtee, RHP, 2026, Saint Xavier
3-1 W/L, 3.98 ERA, 19.1 IP, 25 K - Hayden Poeppleman, RHP, 2026, Saint Xavier
3-0 W/L, 2.10 ERA, 10 IP, 10 K - Joel Tracy, C/1B, 2026, SWIC
Harrison Raiders
Head Coach: Pat Lowrey
Class: 4A 
2025 Record: 20-8
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/6
2026 Team Strengths:
Pitching, Defense, Team Speed
Impact Players:
- Lannon Nicoloff, SS/RHP, 2026, George Mason
- Jeremy Lowrey, RHP, 2026, Stetson
- Lyrik Neal, RHP, 2026, Taylor
7-1 W/L, 2.59 ERA, 48 IP, 48 K - Chase Gothrup, RHP, 2027
6-1 W/L, 1.17 ERA, 42 IP, 43 K - Kendrick Pena, 3B, 2026, Indiana Wesleyan
.274 avg, 2 2B, 1 3B, 20 hits, 14 SB - Jack Gonzalez, OF, 2026, Navy (Football)
.414 avg, 4 2B, 3 3B, 29 hits, 19 SB - Nolan Hodnett, MIF, 2027
.338 avg, 2 2B, 1 3B, 23 hits, 14 SB - Colton Watts, RHP, 2026
2-1 W/L, 4.40 ERA, 14 IP, 18 K - Kaden Keys, OF, 2026, Indianapolis
- Sieger Geswein, C, 2026, IU-Kokomo
- Charles Ellison, LHP, 2026, Vincennes
- Eli Biggs, UTL, 2026
- Kreigh Salmon, UTL, 2026
- Braylen Hands, 1B, 2027
Brownsburg Bulldogs
Head Coach: JB McCallum
Class: 4A
2025 Record: 17-9
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/6
2026 Outlook:
Pitching and Team Speed
Impact Players:
- Ryan Murphy, LHP/OF, 2026, Creighton
.220 avg, 2 2B, 1 3B, 11 hits --- 4-1 W/L, 2.70 ERA, 33.2 IP, 47 K - Canyon Koonce, OF, 2028
.411 avg, 3 2B, 4 3B, 30 hits, 20 SB - Vince Painter, RHP/INF, 2026, Bellarmine
1-0 W/L, 5.37 ERA, 14 IP, 13 K - Daniel Phillips, 1B/LHP, 2026, Purdue-Northwest
.156 avg, 10 hits - Drew Bostic, OF, 2026
.224 avg, 4 2B, 2 HR, 15 hits, 10 SB - Jackson Lambert, RHP, 2026
1-2 W/L, 5.16 ERA, 19 IP, 20 K - Ethan Cougill, INF/RHP, 2027
.239 avg, 6 2B, 1 HR, 17 hits - Brayden Greathouse, INF, 2028
.273 avg, 9 hits - Cole Sabelhaus, RHP, 2027
- Collin Jones, INF, 2027
Mooresville Pioneers
Head Coach: Eric McGaha
Class: 4A
2025 Record: 16-12
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/7
2026 Team Strengths:
Experienced offensive group with strong starting pitching
Impact Players:
- Hudson Devaughan, RHP, 2026, Alabama
4-0 W/L, 2.26 ERA, 43.1 IP, 74 K - Tyler Denny, OF, 2026, Wabash
*4A 1st Team All-State in 2025- .460 avg, 11 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 40 hits, 31 RBI, 36 SB - Brody McGaha, SS, 2028
.473 avg, 1 3B, 26 hits, 13 SB - Kooper Schmitt, RHP/3B, 2027
.229 avg, 5 2B, 1 HR, 16 hits --- 3-2 W/L, 4.93 ERA, 32.2 IP, 42 K - Nate Daley, 1B/OF, 2026, Quincy
.254 avg, 1 HR, 16 hits - Grant Martin, 1B/LHP, 2026
.304 avg, 5 2B, 21 hits - Archer Query, MIF, 2026, IU-Columbus
.320 avg, 3 2B, 25 hits - Connor Cruz, OF, 2026
.282 avg, 11 hits - Kiernan Herald, RHP, 2026
- Stathan Thompson, 3B, 2028
- Adam Biddle, OF, 2026
- Spencer Boisvert, C, 2026
Hamilton Southeastern Royals
Head Coach: Kory Seitz
Class: 4A
2025 Record: 12-18
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4
2026 Team Strengths:
Pitching
Impact Players:
- Clark Bucher, OF, 2027, Michigan
.230 avg, 5 2B, 2 3B, 20 hits - Dylan Cope, RHP, 2026
3.66 ERA, 36.1 IP, 34 K - Parker O'Steen, C/DH, 2026, Kellogg CC
.256 avg, 7 2B, 21 hits - Johann Dierker, LHP, 2027
1-3 W/L, 4.20 ERA, 21.2 IP, 28 K - Chase Bradle, LHP/1B, 2026, Augustana College
.143 avg, 2 2B, 5 hits --- 8.40 ERA in 1.2 IP - Jackson Bixler, INF, 2026
.324 avg, 24 hits - Colin Kendrick, INF, 2026
.306 avg, 3 2B, 1 HR, 11 hits - Cy Cole, OF, 2026, Manchester
.286 avg, 2 2B, 2 3B, 16 hits - Trey McManama, SS, 2026
.213 avg, 7 2B, 1 HR, 13 hits - Karson Seitz, OF, 2027
- Alex Shepherd, C, 2027
- Spencer Mohr, RHP, 2027
- Henry Skeen, RHP, 2028
Whiteland Warriors
Head Coach: Scott Sherry
Class: 4A
2025 Record: 15-10
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3/4
2026 Team Strengths:
Up-and-coming talent
Impact Players:
- Colton Shipp, OF, 2028
.197 avg, 3 2B, 12 hits - Blake Lyle, OF/RHP, 2026, Glen Oaks
1-1 W/L, 2.69 ERA, 13 IP, 12 K - Andrew Cochran, RHP/1B, 2027
1-0 W/L, 5.97 ERA, 10.2 IP, 13 K - Clayton Ratliff, C, 2026
.245 avg, 1 2B, 2 HR, 12 hits - Nolan Muhlhauser, INF, 2027
McCutcheon Mavericks
Head Coach: Tristan McIntyre
Class: 4A 
2025 Record: 16-12
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/3
2026 Team Strengths:
Offensive depth & frontline SP
Impact Players:
- Sammy Swank, RHP/INF, 2026, Kentucky
.293 avg, 5 2B, 12 hits --- 1-1 W/L, 1.65 ERA, 17 IP, 33 K - Jake Winger, INF, 2026, Indiana
.404 avg, 6 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 38 hits --- 0-1 W/L, 6.04 ERA, 24.2 IP, 27 K - Jonathan Riley, OF, 2026, Toledo
.400 avg, 8 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 38 hits, 29 RBI - Mekyel Almond, C/RHP, 2026, Parkland JC
.312 avg, 7 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 24 hits --- 9.66 ERA in 16 IP - Reed Grimes, RHP, 2026, Grace
1-2 W/L, 2.15 ERA, 39 IP, 39 K - Zayne Newgent, INF, 2026, Manchester
.333 avg, 1 2B, 1 3B, 17 hits - Jackson Lancaster, OF, 2027
.269 avg, 17 runs - Rhett Clarkson, OF/LHP, 2026
.293 avg, 1 2B, 1 3B, 17 hits --- 1-0 W/L, 9.98 ERA, 13 IP, 21 K - Cason Trader, RHP, 2027
- Jonah Fritchley, SS, 2027
Beech Grove Hornets
Head Coach: Ryan Kendall
Class: 3A
2025 Record: 6-22
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4
2026 Team Strengths:
Pitching
Impact Players:
- Guerin Boshears, RHP/INF, 2027, Wright State
.302 avg, 3 2B, 1 3B, 16 hits - Bishop Moore, RHP/1B, 2028
.438 avg, 9 2B, 1 3B, 28 hits - Aiden Brown, OF, 2027
.159 avg, 3 2B, 2 3B, 11 hits - Mason Thacker, C, 2028
.227 avg, 2 2B, 1 HR, 15 hits - Isaac Richardson, INF, 2027
Eastern Hancock Royals
Head Coach: Chad Coughenour
Class: 2A 
2025 Record: 9-15
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 9/7
2026 Team Strengths:
Experience returning on the mound
Impact Players:
- Hayden Rouse, RHP/INF, 2026, Southeastern Illinois CC
.408 avg, 7 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 29 hits, 25 RBI - Gavin Jenkins, LHP/OF/1B, 2027
.366 avg, 6 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 26 hits, 17 SB --- 0-2 W/L, 4.26 ERA, 23 IP, 42 K - Aidan Morris, RHP/3B/DH, 2026
.246 avg, 2 2B, 14 hits --- 3-5 W/L, 4.65 ERA, 41 IP, 32 K - Caleb Retherford, SS/RHP, 2026
.284 avg, 2 2B, 21 hits, 10 SB --- 2-2 W/L, 5.03 ERA, 32 IP, 37 K - Conner Wittgren, C, 2026
.271 avg, 4 2B, 19 hits - Jalen Helderbrand, OF/RHP, 2026
.214 avg, 14 hits, 11 SB - Brennan Noah, RHP/INF, 2028
.200 avg, 7 hits --- 1-3 W/L, 7.87 ERA, 19 IP, 23 K