2026 KY High School Team Previews: Volume VIII

February 24, 2026
Wil Hannah | Jamie Tessoff
KY Assistant Director | KY Scouting Director

Opening day for the KHSAA baseball season is quickly approaching and our staff has shifted focus to preparing for the spring! We’ve submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the state. Their responses have been flooding in, and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis! Read along for our next handful of team previews.

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Christian Academy of Louisville Centurions

Region 7 | District 28
Head Coach: Garrett McIntire
Twitter/X: @CAL_Baseball

Christian Academy of Louisville enters the season with a strong blend of young talent and veteran leadership, continuing to build a foundation centered on defense, pitching, and competitive at-bats.

2025 Recap
Finished 16–15 in a challenging Region 7 schedule, gaining valuable experience for a roster that leaned heavily on underclassmen.

Returning Leaders

Lucas Hale, LF, 2026 - Key returning bat expected to anchor the middle of the lineup and provide leadership for a young offense.
Jayson Ruffin, RF, 2027 - Athletic outfielder with impact potential on both sides of the ball.
Will McKnight, P/2B, 2027 - Versatile piece who adds depth on the mound and in the middle infield.

Impact Underclassmen

Carson Hahn, C, 2028 - Advanced defensive catcher for his age with leadership qualities behind the plate.

Jackson Burke, SS, 2028 - Middle-infield cornerstone with high upside as he continues to mature.

Nathan Durston, 1B, 2028 - Physical presence in the lineup with long-term power potential.
Eli Depugh, P, 2028 - Young arm who will be relied on to contribute meaningful innings.
Alex Rigsby, CF, 2029 - Emerging talent with athleticism and range in the outfield.

Team Identity
CAL’s identity is built around defense, pitching, and being difficult to get out. The Centurions emphasize clean baseball, forcing opponents to earn everything.

Outlook
Expectation level is a four. With a talented young core and steady senior leadership, CAL is positioned to take another step forward as its underclassmen gain varsity experience.

Schedule Highlight
Key matchups include Ballard (4/21) and Eastern (4/28), providing early-season benchmarks against Region 7 competition.

Meade County Greenwave

Region 3 | District 11
Head Coach: Justin Amburgey
Twitter/X: @MeadeBaseball

Meade County returns as one of the most dangerous teams in Region 3, built around a deep, experienced pitching staff and momentum from a championship run a year ago.

2025 Recap
Finished 22–11, capturing the 3rd Region Championship before falling to eventual state champion Louisville Trinity in the opening round of the State Tournament.

Returning Leaders

Austyn Stansbury, P/OF, 2026 - Impact two-way piece who will be a key arm in the rotation and a run producer offensively.
Grayson Rhodes, P/OF, 2026 - Returns to the rotation after missing last season due to Tommy John surgery. His return significantly boosts the Greenwave’s pitching ceiling.

Jeffrey Johnson, P/SS, 2026 - Versatile defender in the middle of the field with the ability to contribute on the mound.
John Honaker, 3B, 2026 - Reliable corner infielder who adds stability to the lineup.

Gavin Brown, C, 2027 - Young catcher expected to take on an expanded role handling a deep pitching staff.

Team Identity
Pitching is the clear strength. Meade County believes it has three starters and multiple relievers capable of competing with anyone. Defensive consistency and run prevention will define this group.

Outlook
Expectation level is a four. With significant arms returning and a healthy rotation, the Greenwave are positioned to make another deep postseason run if the offense complements the pitching staff.

Schedule Highlight
Key matchups include Owensboro Catholic, Male, LaRue County, Taylor County, and a home-and-home series with Breckinridge County, providing strong regional and statewide tests.

Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts

Head Coach: Bob Myerhoff
District: 34th
Region: 9th
2025 Record: 14–12 (Lost in District Tournament)

The Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts enter the 2026 season as one of the younger but more intriguing teams in the 9th Region. After graduating a significant portion of last year’s roster, this group will lean heavily on underclassmen who already have varsity experience, a key factor that should shorten the learning curve as the season progresses.

Despite their youth, many of the projected starters logged meaningful innings a year ago and showed a willingness to compete at the varsity level. That experience will be vital early on, especially in district play, where consistency and execution often outweigh raw talent.

Key Returners

Grayson Begnoche – The lone returning senior brings five years of varsity experience, providing leadership and stability to a young roster. His presence will be critical both on the field and in the dugout as the Juggernauts navigate growing pains.
Braden Brown – Expected to take on a larger role this season after contributing in 2025.
Ethan Swett – Another returning piece who will be counted on to help anchor the lineup and defensive structure.

Projected Contributors

Colten Barger

Grayson Begnoche
Conner Drake
Evan West

These players will be asked to step into expanded roles, particularly as Lloyd Memorial looks to replace lost production from last season.

Outlook
Lloyd Memorial’s ceiling in 2026 will be determined by how quickly the underclassmen adapt to everyday varsity roles. The foundation is there, with competitive experience already banked, but growth throughout the season will be essential. Expect this group to improve steadily as the year unfolds, with an emphasis on development and preparation for postseason play.

Schedule Notes
The Juggernauts will once again host the Doc Morris Small School Tournament, providing valuable early-season competition and a chance to measure themselves against comparable programs.

Bottom Line:
Lloyd Memorial may be young, but they are not inexperienced. With a veteran senior leader and a group of sophomores ready to take the next step, the Juggernauts are a team that could be much tougher by May than they are in March.

Apollo High School Eagles

Region 3 | District 9
Head Coach: Heath Hicks
Twitter/X: @AHSBaseball1

Apollo enters the 2026 season returning a strong core from a competitive 2025 campaign, with balance across the roster and multiple breakout candidates positioning the Eagles as a dangerous out in Region 3.

2025 Recap
Finished 17–11, reaching the District 9 Semifinals while establishing a foundation built on pitching depth and lineup versatility.

Returning Leaders

Ryleigh Logan, OF/LHP, 2026 - Dynamic two-way presence coming off a standout season (.393 AVG, 14 XBH) while posting a 0.68 ERA on the mound.
Ross Milburn, SS/RHP, 2027 - Middle-of-the-field anchor with production on both sides of the ball. Expected to return early–mid April following recovery from a surgically repaired broken leg.

Jackson Carder, RHP/INF, 2027 - Reliable arm with swing-and-miss stuff (0.94 ERA) who also adds run production offensively.

Gunnar Hendricks, C, 2027 - Physical backstop with extra-base pop who helps stabilize the pitching staff.

Additional Impact Pieces

Ty Lillpop, INF/RHP, 2027 – Versatile contributor with offensive consistency
Jagger Pate, OF/RHP, 2027 – Athletic outfielder with two-way upside

Geordyn Stevens, OF, 2026 – Depth piece with breakout potential
Isaac James, LHP/OF, 2028 – Young arm adding future rotation depth

Team Identity
Apollo’s identity is balance. The Eagles feature quality front-end pitching, a lineup capable of producing throughout, and competitive depth pushing daily improvement.

Outlook
Expectation level is a four. With returning production, internal competition, and improved depth, Apollo has the pieces to contend deep into the postseason if health cooperates.

Schedule Highlight
A demanding slate includes McCracken County, Owensboro Catholic, South Warren, and a Ripken Experience spring break trip, providing postseason-level tests throughout the season.

Louisville Holy Cross Cougars

Region 6 | District 21
Head Coach: Brian Coffman

Louisville Holy Cross enters a new era with a fresh staff, clear expectations, and a roster built around athleticism and pitching depth.

2025 Recap
Finished 16–16, with the season ending in the first round of the region against Bullitt Central.

Returning Leaders

Tyler Manning, RHP/INF, 2026 - Midway University commit and the lone senior on the roster. The tone-setter on the mound and a key two-way piece.

Dillion Drake, SS/RHP, 2027 - One of the top arms on the staff and a cornerstone up the middle defensively.
Mason Lanham, OF/LHP, 2027 - Left-handed arm that factors heavily into the rotation and bullpen mix.
Jonathan Taylor, MIF/RHP, 2028 - Versatile defender with upside on the mound as a sophomore.
Noah Basham, OF/RHP, 2027 - Physical presence with a big bat who also provides innings on the mound.
Colt Caldwell, C, 2027 - Primary catcher who will be critical in managing a deep pitching staff.

Nate Daugherty, UTIL/RHP, 2028 - Highly athletic piece capable of impacting the game in multiple roles.

New Faces to Watch

Brady Thompson, OF, 2027 – Transfer from DeSales, adds power to the lineup
Kaden Green, UTIL/RHP, 2028 – Versatile depth piece expected to see time all over the field

Team Identity

Athletic, positionally flexible, and pitching-heavy. Holy Cross returns 72 innings on the mound, with only one senior, giving the Cougars a young but experienced staff. The roster is built with multi-position players, a point of emphasis throughout the offseason.

Outlook
Expectation level is a three. With a new staff in place and a clear developmental plan, this season is about building consistency, competing daily, and laying the foundation for sustained success.

Schedule Highlights

@ North Bullitt – March 19
@ PRP – April 28
vs. Meade County – April 13
vs. Male – May 6
@ St. X – April 23
@ Trinity – May 4
@ Sayre – March 20

West Jessamine Colts

Region 12 | District 46
Head Coach: Austin Kearns
X: @WJColtsBaseball

West Jessamine enters the 2026 season with momentum, experience, and unfinished business after a deep postseason run a year ago.

2025 Recap
The Colts finished 16–22, advancing all the way to the Region 12 Finals before seeing their season come to a close. Despite the record, the postseason run highlighted the group’s competitiveness and growth down the stretch.

Departed Leaders

Returning Core

2026 Dylan Milholland RHP (Clark State CC Commit): A true two-way presence and one of the leaders of this roster. Impacts the game on both sides of the ball.

2026 Tyler Giles RHP : A reliable arm who also brings value offensively and defensively.
2026 Mavrick Napier OF/RHP: Athletic outfielder with upside on the mound.
Blake Buehner, INF, 2026: Steady infielder who provides experience and consistency.

Lucas Poor, OF, 2026: Veteran presence in the outfield with valuable game reps.
Jordan Head, OF/RHP, 2027: Another two-way option who gives the Colts depth in both the lineup and pitching staff.
Kellen Dziki, C, 2027: Important piece behind the plate, especially with a staff that returns significant innings.
Hayden Brock, INF, 2027: Young infielder expected to take on an increased role this spring.

Underclassmen to Watch

Jacob Cissell, RHP, 2027: An arm with upside who could carve out meaningful innings.
Braxton Frankenburger, 1B/LHP, 2028: Left-handed bat and arm with long-term impact potential.

Drew Hardin, UTIL, 2028: Versatile piece who adds depth across the diamond.
Gage Struble, INF/RHP, 2028: Two-way freshman with projectable tools.
Eli Scott, UTIL, 2029: Youngest of the group, but already on the radar as a future contributor.

Team Identity
Experience across the field. West Jessamine will lean heavily on its returning upperclassmen while blending in a talented underclass core. With familiarity at multiple positions and depth on the mound, the Colts expect to be competitive night in and night out.

Outlook
Expectation level: 4. After reaching the region finals a season ago, expectations are elevated in 2026. With experience returning at nearly every spot on the field, West Jessamine has the pieces in place to make another postseason push—and potentially take the next step.