The Kansas high school baseball season kicks off on Mar. 19, opening day for regular season action under KSHSAA regulations. Leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down to the official Prep Baseball Kansas Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

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2026 SEASON OUTLOOK

No. of Returning Position Players: 12
No. of Returning Pitchers: 10

Top Returners:

• Cooper Boon (2026) - INF, R/R
  • Was a key leader for our team last season. He set a new school record for most singles in a season, recording 36 hits and consistently contributing at the plate and on the field.
• Gavin Saner (2026) -R/R
  • Served as our team captain last year as a junior. He brings valuable experience and leadership to our squad, with defensive versatility playing both third base and catcher.
• Braeden Heitsman (2026) - 1B
  • Primary power hitter. A left-handed batter, he provides consistent power to all fields and is a major offensive presence in the lineup.
    

Top Newcomers:

• Spencer Crumrine (2028) 
  • Transfer from Sedgwick High School who brings an impressive résumé to our program. He was named an All-State Pitcher as a freshman and adds significant athleticism with his speed and left-handed bat. His versatility and high-level experience will provide immediate value to our team.

Key Players Lost:

• Aydan Hyson - Allen CC
• Doc Needham - Allen CC
• Austin Saner
• Bryson Saner
• Jack Dingman
• Connor Meyer

Coach’s Insight: “One of our biggest strengths as a team is our ability to create pressure on the bases. We set a new school record last season with 78 stolen bases, showcasing our speed and aggressive baserunning approach. Defensively, we are fundamentally sound and take pride in handling the baseball, consistently making routine plays and minimizing mistakes. We're going to be young team. As a rebuilding team, we will rely on full buy-in, health, and contributions from every player, with each individual playing a vital role in our program’s growth and this years season.” – Coach Randy Mutt Rivera, head coach

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Find more information on the 2026 Valley Center program below:

+ Visit Prep Baseball Kansas’ 2026 KSHSAA Team Previews page to learn more.

+ If you are a high school coach and didn’t receive our questionnaire, please click HERE to fill out the form

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