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: Palestine Wildcats
Head Coach: James Dillard (46-32 record at Palestine … 316 career wins, 2 District Coach of the Year Awards, 1 State Championship)
UIL Classification: 4A-17
Team Strengths: Team Speed & Pitching Depth
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 16-10 (4A Bi-District Finalist)
Key Players Lost:

• LHP Tag Dillard (2025; Oakland University) - 1st Team All-District, East Texas FCA All-Star
• INF/RHP Cason Clark (2025)- 2nd Team All-District
• INF Layton Lamb (2025)- All-District
• OF Cooper Perry (2025; Evangel University) - All-District

   

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ROSTER PREVIEW

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• SS Zaylon Warren (2026; Angelina JC) - 1st Team All-District
• OF Blake Wacha (2027)
• RHP Richard Rose (2027) - District Newcomer of the Year
• OF Colt Medders (2028) - District Offensive Player of the Year
• C Quinn Marshall (2028) - 2nd Team All-District
• Number of Returning Position Players: 6
• Number of Returning Starting Pitchers: 2
• Number of Returning Relief Pitchers: 5

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TOP NEWCOMERS

• INF/RHP Mason Conner (2029)
  

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FRESHMEN TO FOLLOW

• INF/RHP Mason Conner (2029)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Palestine Wildcats enter the 2026 season under Head Coach James Dillard, who brings a 46-32 record at Palestine, 316 career wins, two District Coach of the Year honors, and a state championship to the dugout. Competing in UIL Class 4A-17, the Wildcats are coming off a solid 16-10 campaign that ended as Bi-District Finalists. Team speed and pitching depth remain the foundation of the program, and those strengths should again define Palestine’s identity as it looks to take the next postseason step in 2026.

Graduation leaves significant holes to fill, most notably with the loss of left-hander Tag Dillard (Oakland University), a First Team All-District selection and East Texas FCA All-Star, along with key contributors Cason Clark, Layton Lamb, and Cooper Perry (Evangel University). Despite those departures, the Wildcats return a strong core of six position players and a deep pitching staff that includes two returning starters and five experienced relievers. That depth on the mound should allow Palestine to stay competitive throughout district play and into the postseason.

Leading the returning group is First Team All-District shortstop Zaylon Warren (2026; Angelina JC), who anchors the infield both offensively and defensively. Blake Wacha adds athleticism in the outfield, while Richard Rose, the reigning Newcomer of the Year, strengthens the pitching staff. Rising underclassmen Colt Medders, the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year, and catcher Quinn Marshall, a Second Team All-District selection, provide additional impact, with freshman Mason Conner emerging as a promising newcomer to watch this spring. With a balanced mix of experience, youth, speed, and pitching depth, Palestine has the pieces in place to contend again in 4A-17 and push deeper into the playoffs in 2025.

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COACH’S QUOTE

“We have a young team this season with only 1 senior on the field for us. We will have to grow up fast to contend in a highly competitive district. The strengths for our team will be team speed along with some depth on the mound.”

- James Dillard, Palestine Head Coach

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Find more information on the 2026 Palestine program below:
+ Follow on X/Twitter: @PHSWildcatBsb
+ Prep Baseball Texas Team Preview Page

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