Meet the SJ-R's all-area baseball teams, POTYs for 2026

Following yet another season with several high school baseball teams in The State Journal-Register’s coverage area making deep Illinois High School Association postseason runs, it’s now time to announce the SJ-R’s 2026 all-area baseball teams.

Each team is comprised of 12 selections. The large-school team includes the nine largest schools in the SJ-R’s coverage area: Chatham Glenwood, Jacksonville, Lanphier, Lincoln, Rochester, Sacred Heart-Griffin, Southeast, Springfield High and Taylorville. The small-school team includes all other teams, from southwest to Staunton to Rushville-Industry to Mason City Illini Central down to Pana. Jacksonville Routt finished fourth in the Class 1A state tournament.  

Eight of the small-team picks were Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state picks while three all-staters are on the large-school team.  

The players of the year will be presented first for both teams, followed by the other 11 players in alphabetical order. 

Large School Player of the Year: Drew Ward, Sacred Heart-Griffin

The SJ-R’s Large School Baseball Player of the Year leaves the Cyclones after a stellar career, which included his junior season’s Class 2A state championship in 2025.  

He batted .461 (47-for-102) with a .551 on-base percentage, a 1.277 on-base-plus slugging percentage, drove in 32 runs, scored 52, was a perfect 30-for-30 on stolen bases and hit 19 extra-base hits, including three homers.  

Ward also finished 1-2 with three saves and a 2.51 ERA on the mound in 30 2/3 innings pitched. The right fielder struck out 32 against 18 walks. 

Ward and center fielder Ty Springer (also an all-area team selection) helped the SHG outfield be very stingy in hits allowed. 

He was a Class 3A IHSBCA All-State pick after guiding the Cyclones to a 3A regional title. 

Small School Player of the Year: Brady Turner, Jacksonville Routt

What wasn’t the senior doing for the Rockets? The SJ-R’s Small School Baseball Player of the Year was a force on a team that won 24 games and finished fourth in the Class 1A state tournament.  

At the plate, the future Quincy University player led the team with a .398 average (47-for-141) with 18 extra-base hits, 36 RBIs and struck out just 11 times. He had an on-base percentage of .465 and a slugging percentage of .602.  

On the mound, Turner had an 8-3 record with a 2.19 ERA across 70 1/3 innings. He struck out a whopping 124 batters and issued just 21 walks, despite facing 288 batters.  

He was an IHSBCA Class 1A All-State selection.  

LARGE-SCHOOL TEAM 

Carson Butler, Sacred Heart-Griffin 

The senior shortstop helped SHG win 25 games with a .366 average, a .480 on-base percentage, a 1.103 on-base-plus slugging, drove in 32 runs, scored 35, stole 16 bases and hit four homers.  

A.J. Charpentier, Jacksonville 

The Crimsons’ senior pitcher and shortstop was named IHSBCA Class 3A all-state honorable mention with a .336 average (38-for-113), 26 RBIs with nine doubles. In 61 1/3 innings pitched, he was 8-2 with a 2.40 ERA and struck out 85 against 30 walks.  

Sam Ferris, Rochester 

The Rockets’ senior catcher hit .375 (36-for-115) with a .625 slugging percentage, five home runs, 21 RBIs and drew 14 walks and was hit by four pitches.  

Maxx Grieme, Taylorville 

The Tornadoes’ senior backstop earned his spot on the IHSBCA Class 3A all-state honorable mention list by hitting .517 with seven homers, taking 23 walks, driving in 27 runs, scoring 27 times and compiling an eye-popping .653 on-base percentage, a 1.086 slugging percentage for an on-base-plus slugging percentage of 1.733.  

Dylan Huff, Chatham Glenwood

The senior pitcher and right fielder led the Titans to a Class 3A regional title with a 2-2 record and 2.39 ERA across 44 innings pitched with 32 Ks against 19 BBs. At the plate, he was 29-for-81 (.358) with 16 runs knocked in and 22 runs scored.  

Michael Lucas, Chatham Glenwood 

The Titans’ shortstop finished his high school career by hitting .370 (34-for-92) with 20 RBIs and 22 runs scored.  

Nolan Peters, Jacksonville 

The Crimsons’ senior third baseman led the 27-win Crimsons with a .427 average (47-for-110) with 34 RBIs.  

Jack Rohlk, Jacksonville 

The only freshman to make this list, the Crimsons’ first baseman was second behind Peters (above) with a .396 average (44-for-111) to go with 33 RBIs (one behind Peters for the team lead).  

Brody Scheffler, Springfield High 

The Senators’ senior pitcher and second baseman earned a spot here with a 4-3 record and a 2.33 ERA across 54 innings pitched. He struck out 83 against 22 walks. At the plate, he was 26-for-102 (.255) with 29 RBIs and two homers.  

Ty Springer, Sacred Heart-Griffin 

The senior patrolled center field for the 25-win Cyclones, playing incredible defense to go with his .436 average, .529 on-base percentage, 1.306 on-base-plus slugging percentage. He drove in 35, stole 24 bases, hit five home runs and had 18 extra-base hits.  

Caden Van De Velde, Southeast 

The Spartans’ pitcher and right fielder closed out his career by batting .350 (28-for-80) with 10 RBIs. He was also 1-0 in 14 2/3 innings.  

SMALL-SCHOOL TEAM 

Mathew Bywater, Litchfield

The Purple Panthers’ senior shortstop led the team with a .417 average (48-for-115), carried a .511 on-base percentage and a .617 slugging mark to earn a spot on the IHSBCA Class 2A all-state honorable mention list. He had 34 RBIs to go with 13 extra-base hits.  

Caleb Cox, Lutheran 

The Crusaders’ senior pitcher, first baseman and designated hitter earned his spot on the IHSBCA Class 1A all-state honorable mention list by going 8-3 with 77 strikeouts across 10 outings. He signed to pitch at Northern Illinois University.  

Nash Donnan, Petersburg PORTA 

The Bluejays’ junior first baseman and pitcher hit .410 (48-for-117), had a .510 on-base percentage and a .675 slugging percentage to go with 22 extra-base hits, four homers and 45 RBIs. In 38 2/3 IP, he was 2-2 with a 3.98 ERA and struck out 45. He earned an IHSBCA Class 2A all-state honorable mention spot.  

Gavin Greer, Pawnee 

This sophomore shortstop and pitcher was named to the IHSBCA Class 1A all-state honorable mention list with a 6-3 mark and a 2.75 ERA in 56 IP while striking out 67 against 23 walks. He hit .392 with 26 RBIs, two homers and stole 19 bases.  

Collin Grosenheider, Williamsville 

The Bullets’ junior pitcher came back from broken bones in his face and in his first start following surgery, led Williamsville past Pleasant Plains for a Class 2A sectional championship. He was .437 at the plate with 19 RBIs and two dingers. In 50 IP, he was 6-3 with a 0.84 ERA, tops in the Sangamo Conference. He earned a spot on the IHSBCA 2A all-state honorable mention list.  

Reid Hepperly, New Berlin 

The senior shortstop and pitcher led the 20-win Pretzels with a .356 average, 19 RBIs, 21 stolen bases offensively. In 54 1/3 innings on the mound, he was 6-3 with a 2.19 ERA and struck out 78 against 15 walks.  

Jett Karrick, Petersburg PORTA

This senior shortstop and pitcher gave the Bluejays two selections on the IHSBCA Class 2A all-state honorable mention list. In 38 2/3 IP, he was 7-2 with three saves, struck out 45 against 13 walks and had a 3.08 ERA. Offensively, he hit .410 with 33 RBIs and had a .607 slugging percentage.  

Carter Legendre, Staunton 

The senior first baseman led the 18-win Bulldogs with a .394 average, slugged .556 and had an on-base percentage of .516. He drove in 32 runs and hit 13 doubles. 

Landon Maisenbacher, Pleasant Plains 

The Cardinals’ sophomore shortstop was third in the Sangamo Conference with a .422 average (49-for-116), knocked in 16 runs from mostly the leadoff position and stole 28 bases. 

Luke Martin, Mount Pulaski 

The senior third baseman helped the Hilltoppers to a 22-win campaign and a Class 1A regional title. His .361 average, .492 on-base percentage, .515 slugging mark and 25 RBIs helped him garner a spot on the IHSBCA Class 1A All-State team. On top of that, he was 6-1 with a 1.70 ERA across 61 2/3 innings. He also fanned 84 and walked just 25.  

Luke Schuckenbrock, Gillespie 

The Miners’ senior shortstop and pitcher was second on the team in average at .378 (behind Braden Reich), drove in 16 runs and led the team on the mound with an 8-2 record (with one save) and a 1.60 ERA across 52 2/3 innings. He fanned 46 and walked just 12. 

Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Meet the SJ-R’s all-area baseball teams, POTYs for 2026

Reporting by Ryan Mahan, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

By Ryan Mahan, Springfield State Journal-Register | USA TODAY Network