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2026 High School Team Preview: Saline Hornets

SALINE - Putting on a Saline baseball jersey means a lot to Al Zeiher. After all, the eighth-year head coach is a 2010 graduate of Saline.

“As a player I felt a high standard for Saline baseball, on and off the field, how you carry yourself in the school and in the community,” explained Zeiher, now in his ninth season coaching in the program. “There’s a lot of pride wearing the uniform, with the old English S. The program has always felt better than anyone on any given day and you want to carry that onto the field.”

While the losses from a year ago are many, the return of Ryder Concannon gives the Hornets a standout to build the 2026 squad around.

“He’s one of the better players in the state,” Zeiher said of the 93rd-ranked junior right-handed pitcher in the nation. “He’s special. He was first team all-state as a sophomore for us. You’d be hard pressed to find a better player that can impact a game and I think he’s going to take another step forward this year. He can do it all.”

With a fastball velocity now up to 95, the top ranked junior right-hander in the state was 4-2 a year ago with a 0.429 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, fanning 66 in 49 innings, with the losses coming to Hartland (1-0) and Byron Center (2-1). An outfielder when not on the mound, the West Virginia recruit batted .350 with 15 doubles and 29 RBIs a year ago.

Devin Lilley threw 28 innings and had a 2-2 record last year, giving the Hornets another pitcher with experience. Lilley, who will play first and outfield, also batted .298 with six doubles, three triples and a pair of home runs.

Brady Whitford and Julien Polidano are two more right-handers looking to see time on the mound as well as the field, Whitford at corner infield and Polidano as a utility player.  

Two veterans will anchor the infield in Nolan Klein and Colton Tousa. A Northwood football signee, Klein is a four-year varsity player who hit .279 with 22 RBIs a year ago. Tousa, a three-year starter who will be at second base or short batted .330 with a .447 OBP in 2025.

Mason Piazza came on to start late last year and hit .357, giving Saline another infielder with experience.

“We expect a big season out of him,” Zeiher said of the sophomore, who will also pitch in addition to playing third. “He has an advanced feel for the game.”

Center fielder Austin Abbate is out with an injury but hopes are for a possible return late in the season.

“It will be exciting to see who takes on all these roles,” explained Zeiher, with catcher one of the biggest uncertainties.

It has the head coach eager for the season to begin.

“There’s a good mix of older experienced players with new young talent,” Zeiher noted. “I look forward to seeing how it all meshes. We’ll be challenged, but it will be fun to see how we grow. We lack experience right now on the mound and behind the plate, but I look forward to seeing how we take on those challenges.

“I think we’ll be really good offensively,” Zeiher continued. “We have some guys that can really swing it. And with Ryder on the bump, we always have a good chance. Finding other arms will be the key. If we can get healthy, that will be a key, too.”

Dexter, Bedford and last year’s Southeastern Conference Red Division champions Skyline are teams to watch according to Zeiher, who also noted that districts have changed this year, bringing even more unpredictability to the postseason.

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