Omaha, Nebraska - The road to Werner Park always feels a little different this time of year.

The regular season is over. The records still matter, but not as much as they did two weeks ago. What matters now is pitching depth, clean defense, timely hitting, and whether a team can handle the pressure that comes with every inning.

This year’s Class A state tournament field has all of it.

There’s frontline pitching across the bracket. There are lineups capable of changing games quickly. There are experienced programs that expect to be here and a few dangerous teams that could make life uncomfortable for everybody else.

Eight teams remain. None of them got here by accident.

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>> CLICK HERE for the full 2026 NSAA state tournament schedule and bracket

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Bracket 1:

#1 Omaha Westside Warriors (31-3) 

Westside spent most of the spring looking like the most complete team in Class A.

The Warriors played one of the toughest schedules in the state and still finished with 31 wins, earning the top seed behind a balanced roster that does a little bit of everything well. They can score early, pressure defenses on the bases, and rely on a pitching staff that consistently limits damage.

The lineup has plenty of production throughout the order. CJ Shockey (2027) is hitting .389 with 38 RBIs, while Duncan Hansen (2028) has emerged as one of the younger impact bats in the field with six home runs. Lindenwood commit Braeden Hosey adds athleticism and experience after hitting .378 with 17 stolen bases.

On the mound, Ben Weiss has anchored the rotation with a 1.38 ERA, while Payton Wane and Kai Fredrick have both delivered quality innings throughout the season.

There’s a steadiness to Westside that shows up over the course of a tournament.

#8 Millard South Patriots (18-13)

Millard South enters as the eight seed, but the Patriots are probably better than their record suggests.

They’ve spent the year facing strong competition and feature a lineup loaded with college commits, giving them enough offensive upside to compete with anybody in the bracket. Experience matters this time of year, and Millard South has plenty of it.

Johnson County CC commit Brady Perich leads the offense after hitting .366 with 18 extra-base hits and 36 RBIs. Wayne State commit Jaxson Appuhn is hitting just under .400, while Omaha commit Blake McAndrews impacts the game in multiple ways with his speed and versatility.

The Patriots rely more on depth than overpowering stuff on the mound, but Jackson Corey (2027), Preston Barber (2027), and McAndrews have all contributed meaningful innings this spring.

They’ll enter with nothing to lose, which can make a team dangerous quickly.

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#4 Millard North Mustangs (22-10)

Millard North has been near the top of the rankings all season, and it starts with one of the best arms in the state.

Kansas State commit Colin Driffill has been dominant all spring, posting a 0.73 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. In a short tournament setting, having an ace capable of controlling a game changes everything.

The offense gives the Mustangs plenty of support. Tanner Evans is hitting .436 and has stolen 29 bases, while Iowa Western commit Jackson Smith has added power in the middle of the lineup with seven home runs. Tatum Mabus has also been a consistent run producer throughout the year.

Behind Driffill, Cam Johnson and Doane commit Alex Buresh have provided valuable depth on the mound.

Millard North has the kind of roster built to win close games late in the tournament.

#5 Creighton Prep Bluejays (24-13)

Creighton Prep may be one of the more battle-tested teams in the field.

The Bluejays played a difficult schedule throughout the season and picked up several quality wins along the way. That experience should matter in Omaha, especially in tight games.

Rockhurst commit Jack Cosgrove has been one of the state’s most productive hitters, driving in 44 runs while collecting 17 doubles. Hank Vosik has added another strong bat to the lineup, and Nebraska commit Charlie Ziola continues to provide experience in the middle of the order.

The pitching staff gives Prep a chance in every matchup. Easton Loucks owns a 1.29 ERA, while Creighton commit Braden Caito and Augustana commit Nolan Going have both turned in strong seasons.

Prep has seen just about every kind of game possible this spring. That can become an advantage in tournament baseball.

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Bracket 2:

#2 Lincoln East Spartans (29-2)

Lincoln East enters the tournament as the defending state champion and once again looks like one of the most complete teams in Nebraska.

The Spartans have depth throughout the roster and play a clean, disciplined style that’s difficult to disrupt over seven innings. They don’t give away much, and they’ve consistently found ways to control games all season.

St. Thomas commit Brodie McIntire leads the offense with a .431 average, while Cade Anderson and Bradyn Erickson have both added extra-base production. Omaha commit Dele Odulate brings speed and power after stealing 36 bases this spring.

The pitching depth may be the biggest strength.

Cloud County CC commit Santino Arranaga owns a 0.21 ERA, Greyson Bjorkman has posted a 0.70 ERA, and Kalai Larsen has struck out 46 hitters in 27.2 innings.

Lincoln East doesn’t rely on one player or one phase of the game. That balance is part of what makes the Spartans so difficult to beat.

#7 Grand Island Islanders (19-9)

Grand Island enters as one of the more intriguing teams in the bracket.

The Islanders may not have received the same attention as some of the higher seeds, but they’ve quietly put together a strong season with quality wins and solid pitching depth.

Creighton commit Sam Schroeder leads the offense with 33 RBIs, while Gabe Ruiz and Grayson Sack have both provided steady production throughout the lineup.

On the mound, Cloud County CC commit Miles Nelson has posted a 1.43 ERA, while Brock Cushing has recorded 61 strikeouts in 45.2 innings. Sack also gives Grand Island another reliable arm capable of handling important innings.

The Islanders have shown they can keep games close, and that’s often enough to create pressure in a tournament setting.

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#3 Lincoln Southwest Silver Hawks (21-6)

Lincoln Southwest has been one of the steadier teams in Class A this season.

The Silver Hawks don’t necessarily overwhelm opponents in one area, but they’ve consistently played balanced baseball and picked up several important wins along the way.

Luke Mitchell, Brennan Vernon, and Ty Phillips have all contributed offensively, helping create a lineup with enough depth to compete against strong pitching staffs.

North Dakota State commit Linkin Dush leads the rotation after striking out 47 hitters in 30 innings, while Samuel Jaynes and Andrew Jackson have both provided quality innings throughout the spring.

Southwest feels like the kind of team that can settle into a tournament and become tougher to beat as the week goes on.

#6 Papillion-LaVista South Titans (18-8)

Papillion-LaVista South enters the postseason playing some of its best baseball of the year.

The Titans have steadily improved throughout the spring and arrive in Omaha with a roster capable of competing with anyone in the field. Their combination of athleticism and pitching depth gives them a chance to make a run.

Toledo commit Griffin Minderman and Miami commit Matthew Gorman lead the offense, while Concordia commit Brady Alderson adds speed and defensive versatility.

Gorman has also been one of the team’s top arms, striking out 50 hitters in 40 innings, and Minderman gives South another dependable option late in games.

This feels like a team that could gain momentum quickly if things break the right way early.

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The bracket is loaded with proven programs, frontline pitching, and enough offensive talent to swing games in a hurry. There isn’t much separation between these teams once the first pitch is thrown.

That’s usually what makes state tournament baseball memorable.

A couple swings. One dominant outing. One bounce that changes everything.

By the end of the week, somebody will celebrate at Werner Park. Getting there won’t come easy.

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