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With the spring right around the corner, our staff has began preparing for the season with team previews. In this edition we highlighted nine teams in Southwest Michigan.

All information has been provided to us through our preseason coaches questionnaire, please email [email protected] if you have not received this poll and are a varsity head coach in the state of Michigan. 

To view the full list of 2026 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

Interested in attending a Prep Baseball Michigan event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

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Battle Creek Lakeview Spartans

Head Coach: Kyle Kracht

Division: 1

2025 Record: 16-17

2025 Tournament: Lost in Regional Semifinals

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/5

2026 Team Strengths:

• Defense
• Starting Pitching

Key Returners:

• Memphis Wirtz, 1B/RHP, 2027
  .314 avg, 36 RBI in 2024 (missed last season with injury)
• Jeremiah Adams, LHP/OF, 2026
• Caleb McCune, C/RHP, 2026
  .310 avg, 22 RBI / 1-1 W/L, SV, 28.1 IP, 4.20 ERA
• Gavin Deal, CF/RHP, 2026
  .412 avg, 30 R / 4-0 W/L, SV, 39.1 IP, 32 K
• Sam McCullough, SS/RHP, 2027
  .407 avg, 10 XBH, 33 RBI, 18 SB
• Isaiah Jackson, C/OF, 2027
  .250 avg, 19 SB, 21 R
• Quinn McCune, RHP, 2027
• Camden Bradley, RHP, 2027
• Mason Hood, 2B/RHP, 2028
  .276 avg, .394 OBP, 20 R

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Berrien Springs Shamrocks

Head Coach: Kory Martin

Division: 2

2025 Record: 12-14

2025 Tournament: Lost in District Semifinals

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4

2026 Team Strengths:

• Pitching
• Defense 

Key Returners:

• Ty Robinson, INF/RHP, 2026
• Lincoln Cuthbert, C/OF/RHP, 2026
• Matt Ferry, LHP/1B/OF, 2027
• Larsen Kibler, UTL, 2027
• Eli Rospierski, OF, 2027

Underclassmen to Watch:

• Gradyn Lorenc, INF, 2028
• Kellen Blasko, RHP/INF, 2029
• Dylan Ferry, RHP/UTL, 2029
• Aiden Schoenich, UTL, 2029

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Decatur Raiders

Head Coach: Zach Gumper

Division: 4

2025 Record: 24-9

2025 Tournament: Lost in Quarterfinal

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/4

Team Strengths:

• Athleticism
• Depth

Key Returners:

• Rowan Bradfrod, 1B/RHP, 2026
• Brayden Avery, 3B/RHP, 2026
• Brody Mead, OF, 2026
• RJ Grubbs, RHP, 2026
• Aidan Wiggins, 2B/RHP, 2027
• Parker Wiggins, 1B/RHP, 2027
• Kaleb Hunsberger, C/RHP, 2027
• Cayden Cropsey, MIF/RHP, 2028

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Gull Lake Blue Devils

Head Coach: Reggie Walters

Division: 1

2025 Record: 31-7

2025 Tournament: Lost in Regional Final

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/6

Team Strengths:

• Pitching
• Hitting

Key Returners:

• Max Markham, 3B, 2026, Kalamazoo Valley
  .388 avg, 14 2B, 3 HR
• Bryce Wartella, LHP/1B, 2026, Glen Oaks
  25 IP, 2-1 W/L, 3 SV, 35 K
• CJ Bennecke, RHP, 2026, Kalamazoo Valley
  9-2 W/L, 47 IP, 60 K
• Blake Thomas, C/DH, 2026
  .322 avg, .443 OBP
• Trenton Case, RHP, 2026, Glen Oaks
• Kyle Rocco, RHP, 2026
• Jackson Duffie, 2B/DH, 2026
• Zac Pfennig, UTL, 2028
• Espen Owens, LHP, 2027
• Sam Walters, 3B/OF/RHP, 2027

Notable Newcomers:

• Blake Brown, RHP/OF, 2027

2027 RHP Blake Brown
(Home School)

FB: 84-86 (2150+)
CB: 70-74 (2800+)
CH: 75-76

Solid 5’11 frame featuring a strong BB frustrating both righties and lefties in the box. Flashed a mid 7’s CH w/ depth complimenting the FB well 👍🏻#PBFG25 | @Blake_brown2727 pic.twitter.com/qhJqAIsX50

— Prep Baseball Michigan (@PrepBaseballMI) July 27, 2025

• Nolan Farnsworth, C/OF, 2027

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Hackett Catholic Prep Irish

Head Coach: Smiley Verduzco

Division: 4

2025 Record: 19-10

2025 Tournament: Lost in Districts

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/3

2026 Team Strengths:

• Starting Pitching
• Experience

Key Returners:

• David Verduzco, RHP, 2026, Kalamazoo College
  3-1 W/L, 1.22 ERA, 23 IP, 26 K (missed last 20 games with injury)
• Max Gerl, SS, 2026
  .389 avg, 10 XBH, 25 RBI, 19 SB 
• Vince Walbridge, INF/RHP, 2027
  .403 avg, .525 OBP, 23 R / 4-1 W/L, 1.93 ERA
• Tyler Beach, UTL, 2026
  .268 avg, 13 SB
• Lucas Cosby, CF, 2027
  .306 avg, 17 R, 11 SB
• Patrick Doran, C, 2026
  .323 avg, 25 R

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Harper Creek Beavers

Head Coach: Jason Miller

Division: 2

2025 Record: 21-12

2025 Tournament: Lost in Districts

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/3

2026 Team Strengths:

• Hitting
• Defense

Key Returners:

• Maddox McCarty, 3B/RHP, 2026
  .348 avg
• Connor Rosenberg, RHP/OF, 2026, Lake Michigan College
  .238 ERA
• Kobe Cordova, INF, 2027
  .400 avg
• Tanner Alderson, RHP/OF, 2026
• Codey Southfield, OF, 2026
• Broch Heppe, C/OF, 2027

Underclassmen to Watch

• Tristen Johnson, RHP/OF, 2029

2029 RHP/OF Tristen Johnson (Harper Creek)

Worked a scoreless inning in the opening JFG game. Sat low 80s w/ FB showing good feel for breaking ball#PBJFG25 | @Trizzathletics pic.twitter.com/iDYOfBpkyw

— Prep Baseball Michigan (@PrepBaseballMI) July 26, 2025

• Nathan Miller, C/RHP, 2029
• Jace Plane, MIF, 2029

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Parchment Panthers

Head Coach: Brady VanderWeele

Division: 4

2025 Record: 10-20

2025 Tournament: Lost in District Final

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3/3

2026 Team Strengths:

• Starting Pitching

Key Returners:

• Anthony Croy, RHP/C/3B, 2026
• Lucas Platte, 1B, 2026
• Bradyn Holdridge, 2B/3B/RHP, 2026
• Bryce Jones, 3B/OF, 2028
• Jordan Bagley, OF, 2028

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Schoolcraft Eagles

Head Coach: Dale Beeney

Division: 3

2025 Record: 21-7

2025 Tournament: Lost in Districts

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/5

2026 Team Strengths:

• Pitching
• Leadership
• Speed 

Key Returners:

• Jacob Taylor, OF/LHP, 2026, Aquinas College
  .279 avg, .520 OBP, 32 R
• Cody Priest, C/OF, 2026
  .286 avg, 21 R, 17 RBI
• Ty Goddard, 2B/RHP
  .353 avg, 25 RBI / 7-2 W/L, 1.41 ERA, 59 K, 16 BB
• Jack Devries, OF/RHP, 2027
  .298 avg / 3-2 W/L, 2 SV, 1.58 ERA
• Kodee Bienz, MIF, 2027
  .324 avg, 20 R
• Brady Taylor, 3B/RHP, 2027
  2-1 W/L, 2 SV, 2.23 ERA
• Zach Graber, OF, 2027
  .227 avg, .397 OBP

Underclassmen to Watch:

• Adam Rutten, LHP, 2028
• Logan Priest, OF, 2028
• Bishop Hotrum, C, 2028

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Watervliet Panthers

Head Coach: Josh Tremblay

Division: 3

2025 Record: 23-7

2025 Tournament: Lost in Quarterfinals

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/3

2026 Team Strengths:

• Starting Pitching
• Defense

Key Returners:

• Caleb Jewell, RHP/OF, 2026

2026 RHP/C Caleb Jewell@SCBlues2026

FB:83-87 💨
CB: 70-71

Caleb comes out throwing smoke here in the 7th to close this one out.#GLinvite #pb55 pic.twitter.com/xAONI6IM7c

— Prep Baseball Michigan Scouting Coverage (@PrepBaseMIScout) June 27, 2025

• Nate Harasewicz, INF, 2026
• Cayden Ryan, LHP/OF, 2027
• Ethan Westfall, RHP/OF, 2028
  

Underclassmen to Watch:

• Brayden Harasewicz, C/SS, 2029

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