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2026 HS Team Preview: Azle Hornets

January 9, 2026
Prep Baseball Texas Staff

The 2026 Texas 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 Texas.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Austin at the UIL State Tournament in June, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Texas. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 30 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 25 rankings.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Azle Hornets
Head Coach: Stephen Smith (187 Wins at Azle … 366 Wins in Career … District Coach of The Year 4 Times … THSCA Region 3-5A Coach of The Year 2025)
UIL Classification: 5-5A
Team Strengths: Youth
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 16-15 (5A Bi-District Finalists)
Key Players Lost:

  • SS Garrin Graves (Amarillo College) - 2-Time All-State SS
  • C Braden Sirkel (Seminole State College)
  • 1B Ian Loeffelholz (Clarendon College)
  • RHP Ty Bonnett (Seminole State College)
  • OF Ethan Hadaway (Redlands College)
  • OF Jacob McGee (Clarendon College)

     

ROSTER PREVIEW

NAME STATE CLASS POS COMMITMENT
Mason Holleman TX 2026 3B East Central University
Garin Bissonnette TX 2028 SS -

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

  • 3B Mason Holleman (2026; East Central University) - 2025 1st Team All-District
  • SS Garin Bissonnette (2028) - 2025 District Newcomer of the Year
  • Number of Returning Position Players: 2
  • Number of Returning Starting Pitchers: 0
  • Number of Returning Relief Pitchers: 1

TOP NEWCOMERS

FRESHMEN TO FOLLOW

  • UTL/RHP Eli Meitz (2029)
  • INF/RHP Parker Hullum (2029)

COACH’S QUOTE

“This year we will be very young and we will have a lot of 1st time Varsity players. We feel like we will improve each week and will be battle tested when we get to district. Once we get into district it will come down to playing solid defense, making quality pitches, and getting those key hits.”

- Stephen Smith, Azle Head Coach

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Azle Hornets enter the 2026 season in a transition phase following a 16-15 campaign and a 5A Bi-District Finalist finish in 2025. Under the leadership of veteran Head Coach Stephen Smith, who boasts 187 wins at Azle and 366 career victories, the team is identifying youth as its primary strength this year. This shift comes after the departure of a deep class of senior talent, including two-time All-State shortstop Garrin Graves and several other key contributors who have moved on to the collegiate level.

Despite the heavy losses to graduation, the Hornets return a talented core to lead their young roster. The lineup will be anchored by senior 3B Mason Holleman, an East Central University commit and 1st Team All-District selection. Joining him is sophomore SS Garin Bissonnette, who made an immediate impact as a freshman by earning District Newcomer of the Year honors and was a recent standout at the Fort Worth Preseason ID. While these two represent the only returning position players and the pitching staff returns just one relief pitcher and no starters, their experience in high-leverage situations will be vital for a team lacking varsity seasoning.

The future of the program rests on a large group of talented underclassmen poised to make their mark. The junior class features several versatile arms and athletes, including LHP/1B Reece Denham, RHP/OF Kaden Haas, and LHP Jackson Hefley. Additionally, the freshman class offers immediate depth with players like UTL/RHP Eli Meitz and INF/RHP Parker Hullum. While the 5-5A district schedule will be a rigorous test for such a young squad, the influx of new talent provides the Hornets with a high ceiling as they look to build toward another playoff run.

Find more information on the 2026 Azle program below:
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+ Prep Baseball Texas Team Preview Page

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