Follow @PrepBaseballVA
Facebook + Instagram

The Auburn (Riner) Eagles ran through Class 1 last season, but they lost a ton of senior talent. Can they repeat or is there some new blood to take out the usual suspects of Auburn and Rappahannock? See the full Class 1 season preview below.

VHSL Class 1 Previews:

Auburn (Riner) Eagles     

2025 Record: 26-1 *VHSL Class 1 State Champions*

The Eagles were nearly unblemished in 2025, finishing 26-1-1 and rolling through the state tournament three game stretch. During those state playoffs, Auburn allowed only three total runs, including a 10-0 shutout in the title game versus Fort Chiswell. Last season’s team scored a staggering 307 runs, while only allowing 63 on the year, 20 of which came in one game versus Blacksburg. While they were uber talented in 2025, the losses that they had from last year’s team will make it really tough to repeat last season’s success. The Eagles lost seven starters and a huge portion of their pitching staff, only returning three contributing arms. Joshua Givens (Wingate), Jared Lavergne, Zac McGlothin, Talan Mower, and Mitchell Hale have all graduated. Givens, McGlothin, and Lavergne were VHSL 1st Team All-State, while Hale was 2nd Team. Those are some very productive members of last year’s team that will need to be replaced, and the Eagles will need to find more than Matthew Altizer (Concord) and Brody Hensel (Concord) to be able to fill those shoes. Altizer and Hensel were both VHSL 1st Team selections, but they need to find a supporting case to surround them with. Colin Roark, Alex Young, Cody Flinchum, and Canyon Calhoun are a few new faces that must play a big part of this 2026 Auburn team. They are missing a lot from their 2025 title team, but can the ultra talented duo of Altizer and Hensel provide enough firepower to push them back to the state tournament?

---

Buffalo Gap Bison    

2025 Record: 7-14

Despite a 7-14 season, the Bison found themselves in a one run game in the state quarters last year. From that team they return all but three of their top offensive threats. Brandon Argenbright, Cooper Simmons, and Dalton Coffey led the way at the plate, with Argenbright and Coffey both hitting .340+. Where they will need to figure some things out is on the mound. The Bison graduate Cooper Cline and Cal Loan, both combining for 69 innings and carrying the two lowest ERA’s on the team. There were no other arms that had significant qualifying innings and an ERA below 6.5, so the pitching staff will need someone to step in and take over the ace role if they want to contend in Class 1 once again.

---

Fort Chiswell Pioneers  

2025 Record: 19-6

A breakout year from the star freshman Owen Jackson propelled the Pioneers to a 19-6 season. Jackson hit .512 with 9 doubles, 29 Runs, 31 RBI, and threw more than 38 innings with a sub 3.0 ERA. After Jackson it is a little hit and miss when it comes to returners. Mac Phillips and Spencer Moser are the only returning hitters that had batting averages north of .275. Outside of Jackson, Moser will also be the only real contributing arm returning in 2026 after they lost Parker Moore’s 70+ innings of work on the mound. Moore’s innings will certainly be missed, but the biggest void will more than likely be with the offensive lineup. Moore, Brayden Billings, and Zayne Sayers are the three biggest bats that they lost, all three boasting better than .315 batting averages.

---

Honaker Tigers    

2025 Record: 15-9

The Tigers had some success in 2025, falling one game short of making a state tournament appearance. They bring back some returners in 2026 that hope to make a deep playoff run. Connor Musick (Tusculum) will be a huge part in their success, as he is impactful offensively and on the mound. Caden Altizer, Christian Ball, Kamden Beavers, Silas Harris, and Landon Schneider are surrounding pieces that can make impacts as well. Jake Rasnake is a freshman that could make his presence felt sooner rather than later for this team this spring. The returning experience can be important if they want to make a playoff run.

---

Luray Bulldogs  

2025 Record: 11-10

After a regional tournament appearance in Class 2 in 2025, the Bulldogs are back to Class 1 for 2026. Luray is set to return every single major contributor this spring, including do-it-all Connor Hilliard (JMU). Hilliard is back for his senior season after hitting .420, finishing in the top two in basically every statistical category, and throwing 51 innings while carrying a .41 ERA. Hilliard absolutely dominated the competition with a 6:1 K/BB ratio, only allowing three earned runs all season. Hilliard, Braylon Brooks, and Eli Wood combined for more than 120 innings last spring and are back again in 2026. Nick Cubbage also returns for his senior season after hitting .349 last year. While the step up to Class 2 was a steep hill to climb, it will quite possibly prepare them for a very successful season in 2026, especially considering what some others lost from last year.

---

Rappahannock Raiders    

2025 Record: 19-4

Rappahannock found themselves in the Class 1 state tournament in 2025 yet again. However, there were some significant losses off of last year’s team. While they do return a handful of contributors, the loss of their top arm will be a significant blow to this team. So what do the Raiders have for the 2026 season? That is a very good question. A few names to know are Dayne Keyser, Chase Self, Carter Sullivan, Dan Morrison, Landen King, Sam Kelly, and Xavier Todd. Self and Sullivan are both committed to Newport News Apprentice School and both of them garnered VHSL Class 1 All-State recognition last season. Keyser and Todd combine to bring the arm talent to help fill some of the big innings that Brayden Hayes leaves behind. The Raiders seem to be there every single year, so do not be surprised if by the middle/end of May they are right back in the hunt for a Class 1 state tournament run.

---

Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy Ospreys  

2025 Record: 15-6

A new face in VHSL Class 1 is also a new face to the VHSL in general. SMLCA is coming off of a 15-6 season where they had two solid wins over North Cross and Altavista in a three day span in late March. In addition to some growth in the wins department, the Ospreys also bring back five hitters that hit .470+ last season. An 8th grader at the time, Peyton Conley hit .612 last season with 11 doubles, 24 RBI, and 28 Runs. Joining Conley in the lineup is Brody Edwards, Ryan Canipe (Mary Baldwin), Cayden Montgomery, and Micah Payne. While each had their own offensive area of production, Edward led the team in RBI, doubles (11), triples (3), and homeruns (3). Edwards also led the team innings pitched with just over 26, while it was pitch by committee the rest of the way. No other arm on the staff had more than 18 innings, with Conley holding a 1.17 ERA, .083 OBA, and better than a 14 K/7 ratio. A combination of Edwards, Conley, Canipe, and Robert Robertson should give some depth to this staff. They will be tested at times in this new setting, but should be prepared for the Class 1 playoffs when that time comes.