The 2026 South Carolina high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. 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 Palmetto State.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons atop their respective South Carolina High School League class, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams with this initial Preseason Power 25 release which will take us right up to first pitch.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across South Carolina. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, Scout Blog and much more. 

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Central Eagles
Head Coach: Trent Strickland
SCHSL Classification: 2A (Region Region 4)
Last Year’s Record: 9-15 
2025 Season Highlights: Made the playoffs and won a playoff game for the first time in several years
Key Players Lost: Cooper Catoe, Keelan Miller, Caleb Blakeney, Camden Threatt

 

 

 
 

ROSTER PREVIEW

Team Strengths: I think we will be able to swing it very well this season. Defensively we should take a step in the right direction.

Top Returning Players: Cody Branham C 2027
Logan Olney MIF 2026
Aidan Welch MIF 2027
Lawson Hicks P 2026
Colton Threatt P/OF 2027
Dylan Tomberlin OF 2027
Cohen Phillips 1st/3rd/C 2028
Projected Starting 9: Cohen Phillips 1st, Logan Olney 2nd, Aidan Welch SS, Lawson Hicks 3rd, Cody Branham C, Colton Threatt LF, MJ Allen CF, Dylan Tomberlin RF

Projected Rotation: Colton Threatt, Lawson Hicks

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Impact Underclassmen: Cohen Phillips 2028

 

TEAM OUTLOOK

“Really excited for this group of guys. They work extremely hard and have bought in to what we are trying to build. We have a very bright future.” – Trent Strickland, head coach

+ Top Seniors: Logan Olney 
Lawson Hicks
Mj Allen
+ Top Juniors: Cody Branham
Colton Threatt
Aidan Welch
Dylan Tomberlin

 

Find more information on the 2026 Eagles program below:

Follow Central on X at @CentralEagles21
Watch and listen to our podcast, “Palmetto Dugout Show”, on YouTube
Read our in-season analysis on Prep Baseball South Carolina’s homepage