Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season. Team previews touch on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Oregon Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Team Previews are generated through a mixture of coaches' responses gathered through our perennial coaches questionnaires, as well as insight from Prep Baseball Staff. Stay tuned the next several weeks for the unveiling of Team Previews and the complete Power 25.

Today, we spotlight the #12 ranked Central Panthers. 

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High School: Central Panthers   
Head Coach: Ben Kramer
Division: 5A
League/Conference: Mid-Willamette
2025 Record (Finish): 14-12
2025 Playoff Finish: 5A league 4th place

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Key Players Lost: Josh Rech

TEAM OUTLOOK

Starting Pitching: Jackson Barba, JT Girod, Joe Mendazona Jr, Easton Herbert

Bullpen: Emil Leos, Santiago Alarcon

Top Seniors: Ivan Holiday

Top Juniors: Joe Mendazona Jr, JT Girod, Jackson Barba, Easton Herbert, Santiago Alarcon, Josh Fitts

Underclassmen to watch: '28 Cooper Larson, '28 Owen Petrone, '28 Tyler Olafson

Areas to watch: Pitching

Team Strengths: Experience, top end talent

Coaches Outlook: “Players expectations for this year are to compete for a league championship." - Ben Kramer, Head Coach

Overall Summary

Central enters the 2026 season with high hopes after returning nearly its entire varsity roster from a season ago. The Panthers feature one of the best duo's in the state in juniors Joe Mendazona Jr. and JT Girod. Mendazona, the top-ranked 2027 in Oregon and a TCU commit, can do it all on the field. The junior has posted triple digit exit velocities from the left side to go alongside 1.8 pop times as a catcher and a fastball north of 90 MPH on the mound. Mendazona will have plenty of pro scout eyes on him in his junior season. Girod, a Future Games alum and Oregon commit, is no slouch of his own as the third ranked 2027 in the state. Few players feature the polish and poise of Girod, who can drive balls north of 100 MPH as well and has one of the better gloves on the left side of the dirt. Both players will see time on the mound this spring but likely stick as position players at the next level. Elsewhere, RHP/OF Jackson Barba returns toward the top of the order as a two-way option after seeing heavy usage on the mound last spring. Junior Santiago Alarcon is another top of the order bat with a smooth infield glove as well. A trio of young players also made impacts in their freshman seasons and should once again contribute in 2026. Cooper Larson, Owen Petrone, and Tyler Olafson all offer something a little bit different but can grow into big roles moving forward. Head coach Ben Kramer is circling matchups against South Salem, Corvallis and West Albany as games to watch this season. Look for Central to lean on their strong top-end talent and junior class to have a successful year.

Find more information on the 2026 Central program below:

+ Follow them on IG: @central_panther_baseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Oregon Preseason Power 25 homepage

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