The Road To Werner Park: Previewing The 2026 Class A Contenders
March 18, 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 Team Previews, Team Rankings, Scout Blog, Diamond Notes, and Player of The Week, covering all the bases across the state of Nebraska. Today we are looking at the top contenders from Class A.
MILLARD NORTH MUSTANGS 
State runner-up in 2025, the Mustangs start the year at no. 1 in our preseason rankings thanks to 15 total ranked seniors and juniors, headlined by Division I commits RHP Colin Driffill (Kansas State) and SS Tanner Evans (Air Force).
Their lineup will be a force with depth and experience throughout, and their defensive strength is right where you want it up the middle. Driffill anchors the pitching staff as the top arm in the state with a fastball that sits low to mid 90s and no shortage of talent and firepower behind him.
LINCOLN EAST SPARTANS 
The Lincoln East Spartans have been to three straight state championships, winning in 2023 and 2025.
The defending state champs return 15 ranked juniors and seniors, with four Division I commits: OF Dele Odulate (Omaha), INF Brodie McIntire (St. Thomas), RHP/SS Kalai Larsen (Omaha), and RHP/OF/INF Keyan Shadwinkel (Omaha). A deep pitching staff should relieve pressure early in the season for a talented but inexperienced lineup.
ELKHORN SOUTH STORM 
A third place finish at state in 2025, Elkhorn South is anchored by the defending Prep Baseball Player of the Year SS/RHP Brody Jindra, a Nebraska commit. The 2026 standout posted elite 2025 numbers with a .419/.565/.731 slash line, 17 extra base hits, 19 RBIs, 36 runs, and 12 stolen bases at the plate, along with a 5-1 record, 1.34 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 47 innings on the mound.
The Storm have talent throughout the roster with 13 ranked seniors and juniors. Markus Gorup is a sophomore to watch after a monster finish to the 2025 spring and profiles as one of the top bats in the 2028 class.
PAPILLION LAVISTA SOUTH TITANS 
The Titans enter 2026 with three Division I commits: ‘26 RHP/1B Cordell Clinkingbeard (Kansas State), ‘27 SS Griffin Minderman (Toledo), and Mathew Gorman (Miami FL), along with 13 total ranked seniors and juniors returning.
The top of the Titan lineup should be as dangerous as any in the state with a mix of speed and power. Clinkingbeard can match up with any arm in the state, and their depth and experience on the mound gives them an edge when games turn to the bullpen.
CREIHGTON PREP JR JAYS 
The Jr Jays return the most Prep Baseball Nebraska ranked seniors (12) and the most total ranked players between seniors and juniors (19) in the state.
Three senior in state Division I recruits lead the program: OF Cal Anthony (Nebraska), OF Charlie Ziola (Nebraska), and RHP/3B Braden Caito.
Experience will be a strength for this group, and this senior class will not lack motivation after an early exit in 2025.
MILLARD SOUTH PATRIOTS 
The Patriots are as strong as anyone in the state through the middle of the field. With 13 returning ranked juniors and seniors for Coach Geary, seniors SS Jaxson Appuhn (Omaha), C Carson Derr (Omaha), 2B Logan Wick (Wayne State), OF Brady Perich (Johnson CC), and juniors SS/RHP Blake McAndrews (Omaha) and OF Braden Swaney (Kansas State) provide the talent and depth for one of the top offensive lineups in the state.
MILLARD WEST WILDCATS 
The Wildcats enter 2026 with one of the top pitching staffs in the state, headlined by senior Division I commits RHP Rowen Scholting (Nebraska) and RHP Dakota Hughes (Omaha). Junior LHP Colton Williams and RHP Gideon Novotny look like potential breakout arms after strong showings at the Prep Baseball Nebraska Preseason All State event.
With 14 total ranked juniors and seniors returning, there is no shortage of talent across the roster for Coach Frey.
OMAHA WESTSIDE WARRIORS 
After a down year in 2025, Westside enters 2026 under new leadership as head coach Jason Shockey takes over a young and talented roster.
Multiple freshmen saw time last season, and the group returns 9 total ranked juniors and seniors. Kansas State commit Markus Chandler is the catalyst as a highly productive RHP/INF. Youth will play a major role, but experience gained last season combined with new leadership should lead to improved results in 2026.
LINCOLN SOUTHWEST SILVER HAWKS 
The Silver Hawks return 11 ranked upperclassmen, including 9 seniors.
Three committed seniors anchor the pitching staff: LHP Linkin Dush (North Dakota State), RHP Kaden Millard (Cloud County CC), and Aiden Stelling (Cloud County CC), giving them the experience to match up with anyone. Offensively, ‘26 SS Brennon Vernon (Omaha) and OF Ty Phillips (Fort Scott) lead the way, while ‘27 OF Luke Mitchell, a Future Games #TeamMidwest member, looks to build on his second team Prep Baseball Nebraska All State selection as a sophomore.
GRAND ISLAND ISLANDERS 
Junior Creighton commit C Sam Schroeder highlights a Grand Island team that returns 8 ranked upperclassmen, including 6 seniors and 2 juniors.
Senior commits OF Ian Arends (Wayne State) and C Brody Davidson (Morningside) help lead the offense alongside Schroeder. Cloud County commit ‘26 RHP Miles Nelson and uncommitted ‘26 RHP Gabriel Nelson will lead the pitching staff, with ‘27 RHP/SS Brock Cushing a name to follow after recording 30 strikeouts in 6 appearances with a 1.27 ERA.
CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONS
2025: Lincoln East
2024: Millard West
2023: Lincoln East
2022: Millard West
2021: Millard South
2019: Millard West
2018: Creighton Prep
2017: Creighton Prep
2016: Creighton Prep
2015: Omaha Westside
2014: Omaha Westside