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: Easley Green Wave
Head Coach: Gill Payne
SCHSL Classification: 5A (Region 1)
Last Year’s Record: 14-14, lost in District Semi's 
2025 Season Highlights: Made significant playoff run ending in the District Semi's vs Eastside 12-9 Beat Nation Ford 2-3 and then eliminated State #1 Fort Mill at FM.
Key Players Lost: Aaron Tolbert 1st Team All State Catcher

 

 

 
 

ROSTER PREVIEW

Team Strengths: Defense/Offensive execution
Top Returning Players: Walker Cox, RHP, SR, USC Commit: Ayden Beeco, LF, SR, SMC Commit; Colton Irvin, SS/RHP, SR, SMC Commit
Projected Starting 9: LF Ayden Beeco, CF Trey Kicklighter CF, RF Noah Burnett, 3B Levi Holcombe, SS Colton Irvin, 2B Banks Gambrell, 1B Connor Hall, C Cooper Sears
Projected Rotation: Walker Cox SR, Trey Kicklighter SR, Bren Partridge SO

 
NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Impact Underclassmen: Levi Holcombe SO, Bren Partridge SO, Maddox Raby FR

TEAM OUTLOOK

“Returning 11 seniors, most of which contributed during 2025.  Need young pitchers to develop.  If so, our offense will be good enough and our defense should be extremely solid.” – Gill Payne, head coach

+ Top Seniors: Walker Cox, Ayden Beeco, Colton Irvin, Trey Kicklighter, Noah Burnett, Banks Gambrell, Cooper Sears, Zach Jochimsen
+ Top Juniors: Connor Hall (Only junior)

 

Find more information on the 2026 Green Wave program below:

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