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 the southern part of 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. 

---

Silver Creek Dragons

Head Coach: Shane Roberts

Class: 4A

2025 Record: 21-5

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/9

2026 Team Strengths:

Depth on both sides of the ball, strong team defense

Impact Players:

• Jerron Miles, INF, 2026, Wabash Valley JC
  .381 avg, 4 2B, 24 hits
• Boston Roberts, SS/RHP, 2027
  .400 avg, 2 2B, 1 3B, 26 hits --- 1-0, 1.91 ERA, 11 IP
• Hudson Garten, OF/RHP, 2027
  .315 avg, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 17 hits --- 3-0, 1.46 ERA, 24 IP, 26 K
• Conner Burns, 1B, 2027
  .386 avg, 4 2B, 22 hits
• Sean Anglin, OF/RHP, 2027
  .243 avg, 9 hits --- 5-1, 2.52 ERA, 25 IP, 29 K
• Gage Kerley, OF/RHP, 2027
• Cash Thompson, RHP, 2027
• Jaylen Grant, INF/RHP, 2026
  .256 avg, 1 HR, 11 hits --- 1-0, 2.33 ERA, 12 IP
• Sawyer Rush, INF, 2028

---

Jeffersonville Red Devils

Head Coach: Shayne Stock

Class: 4A

2025 Record: 16-11

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4

2026 Team Strengths:

Team Defense

Impact Players:

• Eli Harris, 1B/OF, 2027
  *transfer from Trinity HS in KY*
• Braylon Gray, OF, 2027
  .375 avg, 2 2B, 24 hits
• Aidan Toler, OF/LHP, 2028
  .270 avg, 17 hits
• Carter Durbin, INF, 2028
  .176 avg, 9 hits
• Evan Shelton, RHP/3B, 2026
  .286 avg, 8 hits --- 1-1, 7.64 ERA, 11 IP
• Tripp Rueter, RHP/3B, 2026
• Derrick Haynes, C, 2028
  .245 avg, 12 hits

---

Bedford North Lawrence Stars

Head Coach: Steven McNabb

Class: 4A

2025 Record: 19-7

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/7

2026 Outlook:

Starting Pitching, Team Speed

Impact Players:

• Cutler Chastain, LHP/OF, 2027, Indiana State
  .271 avg, 16 hits --- 3-2, 2.93 ERA, 40.2 IP, 51 K
• Cam Gates, C/RHP, 2027
  .324 avg, 1 2B, 1 3B, 24 hits --- 6-0, 1.31 ERA, 37.1 IP, 33 K
• Grayson Gillespie, 3B/RHP, 2028
  .333 avg, 1 2B, 1 3B, 14 hits
• Jaden Gilbert, OF/C, 2027
  .371 avg, 5 2B, 26 hits, 16 SB

---

Columbus North Bulldogs

Head Coach: Mike Bodart

Class: 4A

2025 Record: 7-16

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/6

2026 Team Strengths:

Experience, Team Defense

Impact Players:

• Brock Kintner, OF, 2026, Marian
  .366 avg, 5 2B, 26 hits, 14 SB
• Jack Whaley, SS, 2028
  .310 avg, 2 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 22 hits
• Javier Uscanga, RHP, 2026
  0-1, 1.02 ERA, 13.2 IP, 14 K
• Franko Ortega, RHP, 2027
  2-3, 9.75 ERA, 18.2 IP, 19 K
• Jayden Adorno, RHP, 2026, Wabash Valley JC
  1-0, 10.50 ERA, 6 IP
• Dillon Long, LHP, 2026
  4.26 ERA in 23 IP
• Isaac Genth, C/2B, 2028
  .279 avg, 12 hits
• Sam Perry, C, 2026
• Jesse Clark, INF, 2026
  .250 avg, 16 hits
• Macario Mendez, OF, 2026
• Bryson Satterfield, P, 2028
  4.42 ERA in 6.1 IP
• Cade Finke, INF/OF, 2028

---

Seymour Owls

Head Coach:  Alan Perry

Class: 4A

2025 Record: 19-8

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3/3

2026 Team Strengths:

Team Speed/Athleticism

Impact Players:

• Jackson Trueblood, RHP/INF, 2026, Wabash Valley JC
  .338 avg, 4 2B, 22 hits --- 3-1, 1.73 ERA, 24.1 IP, 37 K
• Braylon Busby, OF/RHP, 2027
  .227 avg, 15 hits 
• Mack Longmeier, C/RHP, 2026
  .305 avg, 1 2B, 1 HR, 18 hits
• Caydin Bishop, INF/RHP, 2026
  .250 avg, 6 hits
• Max Coates, OF/RHP, 2027
  .417 avg, 5 hits
• Charlie Rockey, INF/RHP, 2027
  .182 avg, 4 hits
• Christopher Pumphrey, INF/RHP, 2029
• Quintyn Bishop, INF/RHP, 2028

---

Forest Park Rangers

Head Coach: Kyle Greulich

Class: 2A

2025 Record: 11-12

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/3

2026 Team Strengths:

Starting Pitching

Impact Players:

• Jaxon Lueken, RHP/OF, 2026, Indiana
  .373 avg, 28 hits --- 4-3, 2.31 ERA, 45 IP, 61 K
• Hudson King, INF/RHP, 2027
  .313 avg, 20 hits, 23 RBI
• Jared Burger, INF, 2026
  .459 avg, 28 hits, 24 RBI
• Grant Fleck, OF, 2026
  .365 avg, 23 hits, 17 RBI

---

Batesville Bulldogs

Head Coach: Tyler Burcham

Class: 3A

2025 Record: 21-6

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/4

2026 Team Strengths:

Starting Pitching

Impact Players:

• Dane Dudley, OF/LHP, 2026, Lincoln Memorial
  .354 avg, 5 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 24 RBI --- 1-1, 0.94 ERA, 4 saves, 22 IP, 39 K
• Carson Meyer, LHP/OF, 2028
  .255 avg, 5 2B, 1 HR, 14 hits --- 3-3, 1.59 ERA, 44 IP, 35 K
• Brayden Maple, INF, 2026, IU-South Bend
  .270 avg, 4 2B, 1 HR, 20 hits
• Ronan Post, SS, 2028
  .362 avg, 5 2B, 20 hits
• Rylan Yeager, OF/RHP, 2027
  .268 avg, 11 hits --- 4.77 ERA in 7.1 IP
• Noah Weigel, OF/C, 2026
  .333 avg, 5 hits

---

Brownstown Central Braves

Head Coach: Duane Higgs

Class: 2A

2025 Record: 16-12

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/4

2026 Team Strengths:

Pitching and Overall Experience

Impact Players:

• Drake Goodpaster, INF/RHP, 2026, Triton JC
  *transfer from 1A Trinity Lutheran; 1A 1st Team All-State in 2025*
• Lucas Ira, RHP, 2027
  *transfer from 4A Bedford North Lawrence*
• Jaxson Johnson, MIF, 2026
  .241 avg, 7 2B, 19 hits, 19 SB --- 1-1, 2.33 ERA, 6 IP
• Brody Short, RHP/1B, 2026
  .255 avg, 3 2B, 12 hits --- 3-3, 0.69 ERA, 40.2 IP, 23 K
• Lane Pendleton, RHP/1B, 2026
  .351 avg, 8 2B, 1 3B, 27 hits -- 2-2, 5.07 ERA, 29 IP, 30 K
• Grayson Cassidy, C, 2026
  .351 avg, 5 2B, 26 hits
• Preston Garrison, CF, 2026
  .233 avg, 14 hits, 15 SB
• Kye Trueblood, MIF/RHP, 2027
  .207 avg, 3 2B, 1 3B, 17 hits, 17 SB --- 3-2, 3.16 ERA, 31 IP, 36 K

---

Southwestern Rebels

Head Coach: Dan Thurston

Class: 2A

2025 Record: 16-9

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/6

2026 Team Strengths:

Pitching Depth

Impact Players:

• Jeter Chatham, SS/RHP, 2026, Hanover
  .427 avg, 9 2B, 32 hits, 15 SB
• Tryson Warren, RHP/1B/OF, 2027
  .242 avg, 3 2B, 16 hits --- 6-1, 1.74 ERA, 48.1 IP, 56 K
• Brady Cook, 3B/RHP, 2026
  .231 avg, 3 2B, 1 HR, 16 hits --- 0-2, 5.25 ERA, 17.1 IP
• Braxton Lewis, INF/RHP, 2026
• Parker Hamilton, C/RHP, 2029
• Quinton Lewis, OF/RHP, 2029
  

---