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: West Florence Knights 
Head Coach: Josh Brown 
SCHSL Classification: 5A  (Region Five )
Last Year’s Record: 22-6- Lower State Championship  
2025 Season Highlights: Played in Lower State Championship for first time since 1997 
Key Players Lost: Cooper Coleman, Matthew Brown 

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

Team Strengths: Veteran team with position players. We have 7 starters back. 

Top Returning Players: Avery Weaver- SS-27, Newt Hinson-C-26-Flo Dar Commit, Carson Haynes-1B- 26  Chase Anderson- 26- P/CF 

Projected Starting 9: C-Newt Hinson, 1B-Carson Haynes, 2B-Josh Haney, 3B-James Wyatt Arthur, SS-Avery Weaver, LF Fischer Hartman, CF- Chase Anderson RF-Derrick Austin DH- Owen Bex 

Projected Rotation: Avery Weaver, James Wyatt Arthur Jacob Love, Hampton Naylor

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Impact Underclassmen: Hampton Naylor- SO 

 

TEAM OUTLOOK

+ Top Seniors: Newt Hinson-C  Chase Anderson OF/P Carson Haynes-1B 
+ Top Juniors: Avery Weaver-SS/P Owen Bex -UT James Wyatt Arthur-3B/P 

 

Find more information on the 2026 Knight  program below:

Follow West Florence on X at @WestAthletics18
Watch and listen to our podcast, “Palmetto Dugout Show”, on YouTube
Read our in-season analysis on Prep Baseball South Carolina’s homepage
 

 

---

Related Content