2026 KY High School Team Previews: Volume X

March 5, 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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Bullitt East Chargers

Region 6 | District 23
Head Coach: Jeff Bowles
Twitter/X: @BEbaseball

Coming off a championship-level season, the Bullitt East Chargers enter the 2026 campaign with expectations firmly in place. With a proven culture, roster depth, and positional flexibility, the Chargers are once again positioned to contend at both the district and regional levels.

2025 Recap
Bullitt East posted a strong 25–9 record during the 2025 season, capturing the District 23 Championship before making a deep run into the Region 6 Tournament, where their season ended in the semifinals against DeSales. The Chargers consistently proved to be one of the most complete teams in the region, blending pitching depth with steady offensive production.

Key Departures
Bullitt East will need to replace several impact seniors and key contributors:

Each played an important role in last season’s success, particularly on the mound and in the middle of the lineup.

Projected Pitching Staff
The Chargers return a deep and versatile group of arms, highlighted by:

2027 RHP Keeton Kleinhenz

2026 RHP Chris Logan
2028 RHP Gavyn Fenwick

2026 RHP Cooper Warnecke
2027 RHP Carter Hilton
2027 RHP Brody Schilling

This group provides Bullitt East with multiple options to match up throughout the season and maintain consistency across a demanding schedule.

Top Returning Players

2026 Hunter Holland (Walters State Recruit), OF – Athletic outfield presence with the ability to impact the game defensively and offensively.

2026 Bradley Myers, 1B – Provides size and strength in the middle of the order with dependable defense at first base.

2026 Kadin Adams, SS – A key piece up the middle, Adams brings athleticism, range, and leadership to the infield.
2028 Gavyn Fenwick, 3B/RHP, – A high-upside two-way contributor who continues to develop into a cornerstone piece for the Chargers.

Top Newcomers
While there are no major “new” additions to the varsity roster, Bullitt East expects several younger players to step into expanded roles as the season progresses. The program’s depth and development pipeline should allow those opportunities to translate into production.

Team Strengths
Bullitt East believes its depth and positional flexibility will once again be a defining strength. The ability to move pieces around the field while maintaining competitiveness gives the Chargers confidence they can field a lineup capable of competing for district and regional success throughout the spring.

Outlook for 2026
With four honest expectation points internally and no known absences heading into the season, Bullitt East enters 2026 with the mindset of a contender. If the pitching staff performs to its potential and the lineup replaces key production from last year, the Chargers have the makeup of a team capable of another deep postseason run.

Schedule Notes

March 23: Eastern visits Bullitt East
March 24: at PRP
Spring Break: Vero Beach trip at Jackie Robinson Training Facility
April 25: David Iery Invitational (Lexington Catholic, Ryle, Somerset)
April 28: North Bullitt visits
April 30: at St. X
May 5: at Bullitt Central

Paducah Tilghman Blue Tornado

Region 1 | District 2
Head Coach: Tim Weber

Paducah Tilghman enters 2026 as one of the premier programs in Kentucky baseball. With elite infield talent, power bats, and a deep pitching staff, the Blue Tornado are built for another postseason run.

Headliners

Brandon Dutton (SR) – SS/P: Defensive standout with a high baseball IQ and electric arm. A frontrunner for Region 1 Player of the Year.

Brenden Mira (SR) – INF/P: Power bat who anchors the lineup and solidifies the infield defense.

Landon Hinz (SR) – INF/P: Veteran leader capable of elevating the team’s statewide profile.
Stone Crowe (SR) – UTL/P: Kentucky Wesleyan football commit with positional versatility and real power.

Raymond Walker (SR) – C: Physically imposing leader returning from injury, expected to make a major impact.
Braydon James (JR) – P: Posted a 0.31 ERA last season; one of the region’s most dominant arms.
Wyatt Gower (SO) – OF/P: Elite athlete with speed and left-handed pitching presence.

Schedule Outlook
The Tornado open with a scrimmage against South Warren before traveling to the Buster Kelso USA Classic in Millington, TN to face Collierville (TN). Additional marquee matchups include Owensboro Catholic, the L.H. Ladd Memorial Classic, and multiple preseason-ranked Tennessee opponents over spring break. District clashes with McCracken County loom large.

With depth, experience, and high-end talent across the diamond, Paducah Tilghman is built for a deep postseason push in Region 1 and beyond.

Calloway County Lakers

Region 1 | District 4
Head Coach: Jonah Brannon
Twitter/X: @BaseballLakers

Calloway County’s identity starts with pitching and defense — and 2026 looks no different.

Impact Players

Nick Cantrell (’27) – SS/P: 96 strikeouts in 59 innings with a 2.0 ERA last year. Sophomore All-Star and one of the region’s top arms.

Jackson Ames (’26) – LHP/OF: Crafty lefty who eats innings and provides veteran leadership.
Iziah Cruz (’26) – OF/P: Speed threat committed to Shawnee CC; poised for breakout offensive season.

Taylor Morrow (’28) – C: Led team in AVG (.310), OBP (.488), and walks (20) as a freshman.

Outlook
Blending experienced veterans with emerging underclassmen, the Lakers are positioned to contend. If the staff continues to dominate and the offense supports consistently, Calloway County will be a factor deep into May.

Tates Creek Commodores

Region 11 | District 43
Head Coach: Jeff Chapuran
Record: 11-17 (Lost First Round of Districts)
Twitter/X:

Tates Creek returns a battle-tested group in 2026 with expectations of leaning on pitching and defense.

Key Contributors

Blake Jones (’26) – RHP: Staff anchor who will set the tone on the mound.
Finley Insko (’26) – C: Power-hitting catcher who commands the pitching staff.

Ben Prendergast (’27) – RHP/3B: Projectable arm sitting 86-88 with upside.

Garrett Biroschik (’27) – RHP/CI: Dependable competitor in big moments.

DJ Carter (’27) – SS: Athletic middle infielder who sets the defensive tone.
Aaron Hobson (’27) – OF: Rangy left-handed hitter who covers ground.

Outlook
The Commodores expect to compete with a veteran-heavy roster that logged significant varsity innings in 2025. Offensive production will need to come creatively, but if the arms hold firm, Tates Creek has the tools to stay in games and build momentum late in the season.

Oldham County Colonels

Region 8 | District 29
Head Coach: Dave Mutchler (2nd Year)
2025 Record: 10-18 (Lost in District First Round)
Twitter/X: @BaseballOCHS

A youthful Colonels squad enters 2026 after graduating 10 seniors. The talent is there — now it’s about development and consistency.

Key Pieces

Daniel Stewart (’26) – C: Major offensive contributor expected to anchor the lineup.

Logan Edsell (’26) – SS: Defensive anchor in the infield and steady bat.

Ryan Giles (’26) – CF: Led team in stolen bases; cornerstone of outfield defense.
Colton Davis: Logged 35 IP last season and expected to factor into rotation.

Outlook
With limited returning innings on the mound and several positions still to be solidified, growth will be key. The Colonels are buying into the program’s direction under Coach Mutchler. Expect some learning curves early, but a hungry, motivated roster could surprise as the season progresses.

Kentucky Country Day Bearcats

Region 7 | District 10
Head Coach: Andrew Ryan
X/Instagram: kcdbaseball

Kentucky Country Day returns in 2026 after a season that was defined by youth, growth, and valuable experience. With a lineup that featured multiple freshmen last spring, the Bearcats believe that experience will pay dividends this year.

2025 Recap
Finished 10–11, navigating a competitive Region 7 schedule while gaining key reps for a young core.

Departed Leaders

Colin Moriarty
Isaac Miller (transferred to Trinity)

Returning Core

Maverick Mead, IF/P, 2026: A major contributor last season who took big developmental steps over the summer. Expected to anchor both the infield and pitching staff.
Grant Yewell, OF/P, 2026: Provided much-needed power late last year and adds pop to the middle of the lineup.

Xavier Pulce, IF/P, 2026: Dependable defender who was a steady presence in the infield and will again play a key role.
Evan Smith, OF, 2026: Team leader nicknamed “Coach.” Brings strong leadership and presence both on and off the field.
Lucas Smith, 1B, 2026: Solid defensively and continues to develop offensively heading into his senior season.
Carter Jones, C/IF/OF, 2028: True Swiss Army knife who played nearly every position last year. Spark plug at the top of the order with defensive versatility.

Underclassmen to Watch

Joey Rechter, OF, 2028
Marcus Southworth, IF, 2028
Harrison Lage, P, 2029
Jack Hauer, OF, 2029

A young group that adds depth and athleticism as the program continues to build.

Team Identity
Versatility and athleticism define this group. After starting several freshmen last season, the Bearcats now return experienced players who understand the speed of the varsity game. Senior leadership paired with hungry underclassmen gives this roster flexibility across multiple positions.

Outlook
Expectation level: 3. If the returning core takes the next step and the young depth pieces develop quickly, Kentucky Country Day has the pieces to compete consistently in Region 7.

Schedule Highlights

April 18 – Bethlehem
April 22 – Ballard

Challenging regional matchups will once again prepare the Bearcats for postseason play.