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2026 KY High School Team Previews: #15-11

March 11, 2026
Wil Hannah | Jamie Tessoff
KY Assistant Director | KY Scouting Director

We are less than ONE WEEK from opening day for the 2026 KHSAA season! The Prep Baseball KY staff has been hard at work ranking the top 25 teams in the Bluegrass State. We are now previewing our top ranked teams as part of our Power 25 countdown. Our next round of preview belongs to #15-11!

#11: Frederick Douglass Broncos 

Region 11 | District 42
Head Coach: Braden Johnson
Twitter/X: @FDHSBaseball

Frederick Douglass enters 2026 with a retooled lineup and a pitching staff capable of controlling games.

2025 Recap
The Broncos finished 19–20, losing in the 11th Region semifinals.

Key Departures

Returning Arms

Connor Harris - (02/25/2026)
Alex Whitaker - (02/25/2026)

Additions

Team Identity
Pitching depth, aggressive baserunning, and doubles-driven offense define the Broncos’ approach.

Outlook
Expectation level is three.

Schedule Highlights
Opening Night @ Lexington Catholic (3/17)

#12: LaRue County Hawks 

Region 5 | District 18
Head Coach: Kellen Lobb
Twitter/X: @LarueBaseball

The LaRue County Hawks enter the 2026 season as one of the most complete and battle-tested teams in Region 5. With elite pitching depth, a proven offensive core, and a roster that has played meaningful baseball together for multiple seasons, LaRue County has positioned itself firmly among the top programs to watch this spring.

2025 Recap
LaRue County finished the 2025 season with an impressive 27–8 record, defeating Elizabethtown in the opening round of the Region 5 Tournament before seeing its postseason run end in the semifinals against Taylor County, the eventual region champion. Despite falling short of a title, the Hawks once again showed their ability to compete deep into the postseason.

Key Departures
The Hawks lost just one player from last season’s roster:

  • Lucas Thompson – Continuing his baseball career at Kentucky Wesleyan

The minimal turnover allows LaRue County to return the majority of its production on both sides of the ball.

Projected Pitching Staff
Pitching projects as the foundation of this 2026 squad, as LaRue County returns all of its starting pitching from a year ago:

  • Brayden Singleton, RHP, Junior – University of Kentucky commit who returns fully healthy after missing time last season.
  • Creed Price, RHP, Junior – Posted a 6–1 record with a 2.69 ERA and is poised for a breakout year.
Creed Price - (02/17/2026)
  • Cole Miller, RHP, Junior – Finished with a 2.62 ERA, providing reliability and consistency.
  • Brady Skaggs, RHP, Senior – Campbellsville University commit who went 1–2 with three saves and a 1.31 ERA.
  • Ayden Seidl, RHP, Senior – Went 2–0 with a 2.68 ERA, adding depth and experience.

Last season, the Hawks posted a 2.01 team ERA, striking out 259 hitters while walking just 114, underscoring their ability to control games from the mound.

Projected Starting Lineup
LaRue County returns nearly its entire offensive core:

SS: Brady Skaggs (SR)

C: Ryan Hughes (SR)

1B: Brayden Singleton (JR)

OF: Dekker Thomas (JR)

OF: Cole Miller (JR)

2B: Kobe Cahoe (SR)

3B: Brady Abell (JR)

Additional competition for starting roles includes juniors Ryan Edwards, Creed Price, Levi Mattingly, Cooper Wootton, and sophomores Kasen McDowell and Braden Brooks.

Top Returning Players

  • Brady Skaggs, SS/RHP, Senior – Campbellsville commit who hit .390 with 39 hits and 33 RBIs, while also anchoring the pitching staff.
  • Ryan Hughes, C, Senior – A four-year starter and widely regarded as one of the top defensive catchers in the state, hitting .382 with 39 hits and 29 RBIs.
  • Brayden Singleton, P/1B, Junior – UK commit and four-year contributor who hit .412 with 4 HR and 44 RBIs.
  • Dekker Thomas, OF, Junior – One of the most underrated juniors in the state after hitting .429 with 42 hits and 33 RBIs, leading the team in hits.
  • Cole Miller, OF/RHP, Junior – A three-year starter who hit .369 with 38 hits and 22 RBIs, while also providing pitching depth.
  • Creed Price, RHP, Junior – Coming off a strong season and expected to take another step forward in 2026.
  • Brady Abell, 3B, Junior – A three-year starter and regarded as the top defensive third baseman in the region.

Team Strengths
Pitching will be the defining strength for LaRue County once again, as the Hawks return every starting arm from a staff that ranked among the best in the state. Offensively, LaRue County was also elite, finishing top five in Kentucky in multiple categories, including a .333 team batting average, 251 RBIs, and 294 total hits. With nearly the entire lineup returning and a core group that has played together for the past three seasons—winning region titles in 2023 and 2024—expectations are understandably high.

Outlook for 2026
With internal expectations set at five and no known absences entering the season, LaRue County enters the spring as a legitimate contender in Region 5 and beyond. If the Hawks stay healthy, this is a group built to make another deep postseason run and challenge for regional and state-level success.

Schedule Notes (All times Eastern)

  • 3/17: Boyle County (2A) – 6:00 PM
  • 3/26: North Bullitt – 5:30 PM
  • 3/28: Bowling Green – 12:00 PM
  • 3/30: at Campbellsville – 5:30 PM
  • 4/5–4/10: Fort Walton Beach trip – TBA
  • 4/17: at Taylor County – 5:30 PM
  • 4/21: at Green County – 6:00 PM
  • 4/22: at Meade County – 6:00 PM
  • 5/9: at Spencer County – 12:00 PM
  • 5/11: at Bullitt East – 6:00 PM
  • 5/13: at Elizabethtown – 5:30 PM

College Commits

  • Brayden Singleton- Kentucky
  • Brady Skaggs- Campbellsville

#13: Beechwood Tigers 

Region 9 | District 35
Head Coach: Kevin Gray
Twitter/X: @BeechwoodTigers

2025 Recap
Beechwood turned in an impressive 25–11–1 season in 2025, capturing the 35th District title and advancing to the 9th Region final in a hard-fought instant classic against Highlands. With a few key seniors graduating, an uber talented 2026 and 2027 core is set to take the reins as the Tigers look to remain among the top contenders in the region once again.

Key Departures

Returning Core

New Contributors

Schedule Highlights

  • Apr 4: vs. St. Xavier
  • Apr 18: vs. Highlands
  • May 5: @ Covington Catholic

#14: South Warren Spartans 

Region 4 | District 14
Head Coach: Chris Gage
Twitter/X: @SWBaseball

2025 Recap
South Warren put together a dominant 31–9 campaign in 2025, rolling through the 4th Region before advancing to the state quarterfinals. While the Spartans graduated a truly elite senior group highlighted by Prep Baseball KY 2025 Player of the Year Griffin Rardin, another deep senior class alongside talented 2027 and 2028 prospects keeps the program positioned for continued success.

Key Departures

Returning Core

Brandon Perkins jr - (02/17/2026)

New Contributors

Cole Kuzma - (02/17/2026)

Schedule Highlights

  • Mar 19: vs. Owensboro Catholic
  • Mar 21: vs. Christian County
  • Apr 20: @ Greenwood
  • Apr 21: vs. Greenwood
  • May 2: vs. Trinity
  • May 2: vs. Owensboro Catholic
  • May 4: @ Bowling Green
  • May 5: vs. Bowling Green
  • May 11: vs. University Heights

#15: Madison Central Indians 

Region 11 | District 44
Head Coach: Steve Roof
Twitter/X: @MCHS_Baseball

2025 Recap
Madison Central finished 25–12 in 2025, with their season ending in the 11th Region semifinals against eventual champion Sayre. Despite graduating a large and impactful senior class, the Indians’ depth and challenging schedule should keep them in the mix as they pursue another run at the region’s heavily sought after bid to the state tournament

Key Departures

Returning Core

Braxton Hicks - (02/25/2026)
Kannon Cook - (02/25/2026)
Carson Sizemore - (02/17/2026)

New Contributors

Schedule Highlights

  • Mar 26: @ Henry Clay
  • Apr 14: vs. Sayre
  • Apr 17: vs. Whitley County
  • Apr 20: vs. St. Xavier
  • May 1: @ Boyle County
  • May 6: vs. Frederick Douglass
  • May 8: vs. South Warren
  • May 11: @ Trinity
  • May 15: @ Whitley County

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