2026 Nebraska High School Team Preview: Central City/Centura
February 21, 2026
The 2026 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement is present throughout Nebraska. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across the Cornhusker State.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons at Werner Park at the NSAA championship games, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to shine a spotlight on all teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Nebraska.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.
Each week we will be releasing our Diamond Notes and Player of The Week, covering all the bases across the state of Nebraska.
Central City/Centura Kernels
High School: Central City/Centura
Head Coach: Brandon Detlefsen
Class: Class C
2025 Record (Finish): 24-2 (Class C State Runner-Up)
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
+ Conner Erickson
+ Luke Vakiner
+ Colbyn Peters
+ Parker Zikmund
+ Hayden Murphy
+ Kayden Morner
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
+ Quinn Jensen
ALUMNI IN COLLEGE
+ Jakob Ruhl - Creighton
+ Kale Jensen - Univ. Illinois Chicago
+ Bryce Gorecki - York University
+ Mason Gorecki- York University
+ Kellen Fries - Northeast CC
+ Barrett Fries- Northeast CC
TEAM OUTLOOK
“We are returning 7 starters/key players from last year state runner-up team. There will be a couple open spots to fill this season and we are looking forward to watching the competition play out for those spots. We have several guys who have been waiting for their turn to shine on the varsity stage. Our pitching staff will have about 5 guys returning who have pitched in some big moment games throughout their careers. So, we will lean on those guys as we continue to develop the younger arms. ” – Brandon Detlefsen, head coach
Find more information on the 2026 Central City/Centura program below:
+ Follow them on X: @KernelsBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Nebraska, 2026 HS Team Previews
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