Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2026 MSHSAA Team Preview: Willard Tigers

February 24, 2026
Prep Baseball Missouri Staff

The Missouri high school baseball season kicks off on Mar. 19, opening day for regular season action under MSHSAA regulations. Leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down to the official Prep Baseball Missouri Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Willard
Head Coach: Scott McGee (18 years)
Classification: Class 5
League: Central Ozarks Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 29-9 (lost in district semis)

2026 SEASON OUTLOOK

No. of Returning Position Players: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

Top Returners:

  • Levi Hilton (2026) - RHP/OF, 6'2, 215, R/R
    • Missouri Southern commit
    • Levi is possibly the top pitcher in SWMO. 1st team all-conference last year, threw a no-hitter vs Nixa. 40 IP/63K/17hits. Up to 90 at times. He also hit over .300
  • Jarrett McGee (2026) - C/P, 6'0, 185 L/R
    • Missouri Southern commit
    • Lead the team in RBI. Will hit in the middle of the order and pitch once a week in addition to catching duties.
  • Cade Hayter (2026) - SS/P, 5'10, 165, S/R
    • Hit leadoff last year and was 1st team all-conference. Will move to SS and provide defense and speed at the top of the order.
  • Tyler Davis (2026) - IF, 5'8, 165, R/R
    • Plays very hard and provides good all-around offensive abilities.
  • Jackson Redd (2027) - C/OF/P, 5'7, 155, R/R
    • Jackson has great bat to ball ability and is a grinder. 2nd team all-conference as a sophomore.
  • Matthew Burns (2027) - 3B/P, 5'11, 175, R/R
    • Matthew will move into the starting lineup on the infield and will be our #2 pitcher. Fastball in mid 80s and can spin it for strikes.
  • Kyler Adams (2026) - CF/P, 5'11, 160, R/R
    • Kyler will compete for time in the OF and continue pitching after throwing 16 innings as a junior.

Top Newcomers:

  • Evan Arnold (2028) - 1B, 6'2, 185, L/R
    • Good offensive player who will break into the lineup this season.
  • Easton Redd (2028) - IF/OF, 5'6, 145, L/R
    • Good offensive player.
  • Gavin Leek (2026) - DH, 5'11, 220, L/R
    • Power from the left side.
  • Kade Taylor (2026) - IF/P, 6'2, 160
    • Versatile and a great understanding of the game.
  • Jack Anderson (2026) - OF/P, 6'0, 175
    • Will be a bullpen arm that has really developed.
  • Masyn Beck (2026) - C, 6'1, 190
    • Mission University commit
  • Sean Slagle (2026) - RHP, 6'0, 215, R/R
    • Mission University commit
    • Will be in our rotation. Throws strikes. 
  • Hunter Kelley (2026) - SR, 5'9, 175, R/R
    • Culver-Stockton commit

Key Players Lost:

Coach’s Insight: “We have a mature group that has grown up playing together and understands our system well. We have a great arm to lead the staff, and more pitching depth than we've had in a while. We have a lot of kids that care a tremendous amount about winning. We do not have as much position player depth as we have had the past few years. We have question marks defensively in the OF and will need Hilton and Burns to be dominant. We lack swing and miss stuff outside of them.” – Scott McGee, head coach

Find more information on the 2026 Willard program below:

+ Follow them on X: @WillardTigersBB
+ Visit Prep Baseball Missouri’s 2026 MSHSAA Team Previews page to learn more.

+ If you are a high school coach and didn’t receive our questionnaire, please click HERE to fill out the form

Related Content