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2026 New England High School Team Previews

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2026 Spring Team Preview: Loomis Chaffee (CT)

WINDSOR, Ct. - With 16 returning players along with four post-grads, high expectations is an understatement for Loomis Chaffee.

“We have so much depth,” explained 10th-year head coach Donnie McKillop. “We’re able to play left-handed and right-handed bats. We have power, speed, quality arms and a deep bullpen. We’re talented all the way around the diamond.”

It is evident nowhere more than on the pitching staff with seven college commits among the nine  names mentioned by McKillop. It starts with Brady Winn, the ace the past two years who was 2-0 with two saves last year, throwing 35 innings with a 1.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. The senior committed to Trinity is joined by a pair of newcomers in post-grads Malcolm Klingler and Henry Vail. Both right-handers, Klingler is a Northeastern signee and Vail, the 29th-rated 2026 right-handed pitcher in New England, a commit to Tufts.

Hamilton recruit Nathan Hall, the 17th-ranked 2026 left-handed pitcher in New England, brings a southpaw to the mound for the Pelicans with freshman Matias Pelaez another lefty.

Jaacob Paasch is a Bowdoin commit, Sean Moleti is going to Salve Regina and Daniel Grapski is a Skidmore College signee. Then there is Kaz Matsuo, a freshman from Tokyo, who adds more promise on the mound.

Hudson Schmidt, the 22nd-ranked junior catcher in New England, is back for his fourth year behind the plate after reclassifying. Schmidt hit .316 with a .988 OPS, belting three home runs in 20 games with 20 RBIs and 13 runs. Sophomore Mason Dolch is another catcher and can also play first base with Grapski another that will see time at first.

Hofstra commit Ulysses Pichardo will be at shortstop after spending the previous three years playing short, second and third. A .333 hitter a year ago, Pichardo had five doubles, 12 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 2025.

Cooper Lamb, the shortstop last season, is penciled in at second base this year with Jack Read and Matsuo providing depth in the middle infield. Jacob Budarz, the 26th-ranked junior third baseman in the country, will be at third. The Rutgers recruit batted .409 with a 1.20 OPS last season, hitting 14 extra base hits including 11 doubles with 21 runs scored and seven stolen bases. Sophomore Andes Chai is the backup and could also see time pitching in relief.

Jacob Salzillo, the 14th-rated senior outfielder in New England, will be in center with the New York University signee joined by Declan Ellingwood, the 10th-ranked junior outfielder in New England who has committed to Bryant in left. Salzillo hit .280 with 17 runs, 16 walks, 16 stolen bases and 10 RBIs last season while Ellingwood batted .300 with 10 runs, 13 walks and nine steals while driving in eight runs.

Luke Flowers, a Penn football commit, senior CJ Glooch, junior Connor Budzik and Pelaez are others battling to see action in the outfield.

“We recruit a lot of guys in their younger years and then add pitching,” McKillop said. “We develop camaraderie here with kids that like to work together. We bring together a lot of baseball people who like to work around other self-motivated kids and we have a great coaching staff.”

Winners of the Founder League Tournament in 2017, 2018 and 2022, McKillop sees the possibilities of another in 2026.

“A few of the guys that were with us in 2023 when we hosted the championship are still here and one that was here in 2022 when we won it,” McKillop noted. “I want our guys to live in every moment and, hopefully, rise above any adversity. We have good standards on how to prepare and if we do that we’ll be okay.

“These guys love being around baseball and having a good time,” McKillop concluded. “Living in the moment matters the most.”

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