The Tallahassee Democrat has announced its 2026 All-Big Bend Baseball Team.
From the plate to the mound, area athletes have been honored for individual awards, such as Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. The Coach of the Year has also been picked.
All-Big Bend also features first team, second team, and honorable mention selections.
Did your favorite players and coach make it?
Here’s the full release of All-Big Bend honorees for the 2026 baseball season.
All-Big Bend Player of the Year
Saunder Dinkelman, Sr., Chiles
Dinkelman established himself as the Big Bend’s premier power hitter this season, powering Chiles with a blend of consistency at the plate and reliability in the field.
Dinkelman led the area with seven home runs, including a standout performance Feb. 25 when he blasted two homers in a 16-2 win over Choctawhatchee. The Florida Gulf Coast signee anchored the Timberwolves’ lineup all season, finishing with a team-best .412 batting average, along with 33 hits, 34 runs scored and 25 RBI.
Beyond his offensive production, Dinkelman was equally dependable defensively. He led Chiles with a .990 fielding percentage, handling 198 total chances and recording 192 putouts, providing stability for the Timberwolves.
Dinkelman’s selection continues a strong run for the program, marking the second consecutive year a Chiles player has been named player of the year.
All-Big Bend Pitcher of the Year
Noah Chavez, Sr., Chiles
Noah Chavez made a habit of silencing opposing lineups this season.
The Chiles senior right-hander anchored one of the Big Bend’s strongest pitching staffs, posting a dominant 0.87 ERA — the lowest in the area — while also leading in winning percentage. Chavez delivered one of the season’s signature performances on March 11, tossing a no-hitter against Suwannee.
The Tallahassee State College signee finished 8-1, striking out 90 batters and allowing just seven earned runs all year, consistently overpowering hitters with precision and poise.
With his standout season, Chavez not only set the tone for Chiles on the mound but also established himself as one of the region’s most reliable and effective arms, capping his high school career with a performance that will be tough to match.
All-Big Bend Coach of the Year
Mike Gauger, Lincoln, Class 5A state champs
Despite a challenging regular season that ended 11-14, the Trojans overcame injuries — including the early loss of senior standout Lucas Cannady — and a demanding schedule to mount a remarkable postseason run. They captured both district and regional titles and advanced to the state semifinals for the third consecutive year.
After falling short in the previous two seasons, the Trojans (20-16) broke through, defeating Winter Springs to secure their first state championship since 2017.
The title run capped one of the program’s most resilient seasons, underscoring a turnaround that transformed early setbacks into a championship finish.
All-Big Bend First Team
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
DH/Utilities
All-Big Bend Second Team
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
DH/Utilities
All-Big Bend Honorable Mention
Aucilla Christian: Colin Campbell, So., P/UTL; 45.1 IP, 3.40 ERA, 78 Ks, 25 H, 22 ER, 37 BB, 27 GP, 0.211 BA, 90 PA, 71 AB, 12 R, 15 H, 10 RBI, 1 HR; Hudson Sanders, OF, Jr., 27 GP, 0.244 BA, 110 BA, 82 AB, 29 R, 20 H, 10 RBI, 15 SBs; Brandon Key, OF, Sr., 27 GP, 0.284 BA, 96 PA, 74 AB, 15 R, 21 H, 13 RBI, 10 SBs; Trey Roberts, Sr., C/UTL, 23 GP, 0.250 BA, 43 PA, 32 AB, 6 R, 8 H, 6 RBI, 2 SBs
Chiles: Myles Mott-Smith, SS, Sr.; 29 GP, 0.250 BA, 97 PA, 76 AB, 16 R, 19 H, 19 RBI, 2 HRs, 1 SB
FAMU DRS: Wayne Soloman, OF, So.; 13 GP, 0.406 BA, 38 PA, 32 AB, 7 R, 13 H, 10 RBI, 1 HR, 6 SB; 13 GP, Kayden Randolph, 8th, UTL, 0.469 BA, 40 PA, 32 AB, 10 R, 15 H, 8 RBI
Florida High: Nick Steibly, Sr., OF/P; 25 GP, 0.298 BA, 60 PA, 47 AB, 6 R, 14 H, 16 RBI, 1 HR; Tanner Hall, Sr., C, 27 GP, 90 PA, 53 AB, .283 BA, 4 R, 15 H 12 RBI; Sam Clark, Sr., P, 42 IP, 2.33 ERA, 58 K, 32 BB, 14 ER, 37 H; Kade McLeod, Jr., P, 33.2 IP, 3.11 ERA, 5-1, 22 K, 15 BB, 38 H, 15 ER; Tegan Washington, Sr., P, 22.2 IP, 3.08 ERA, 10 ER, 21 K, 13 BB, 19 H; Chris Copa, 2B, Jr., 24 GP, 0.339 BA, 79 PA, 62 AB, 19 R, 21 H, 14 RBI, 7 SBs
Godby: Tytus Evans, Fr., UTL, 13 GP, 0.367 BA, 36 PA, 30 AB, 10 R, 11 H, 12 RBI, 14 SB
Jefferson County: Marco Vargas, RF, Sr., 26 GP, 0.389 BA, 79 PA, 54 AB, 21 R, 21 H,16 RBI, 32 SBs; Tre Scott, 2B, Sr., 27 GP, 0.320 BA, 85 PA, 75 AB, 23 R, 24 H, 16 RBI, 29 SBs
Leon: Evans Franco, 2B, 26 GP. 0.390 BA, 93 PA, 77 AB, 27 R, 30 H, 27 RBI, 9 SBs; Jacob Strunk, SS, Sr., 26 GP, 0. 319 BA, 100 PA, 72 AB, 30 R, 23 H, 17 RBI, 14 SBs; Raney McMullian, 1B, Sr., 26 GP, 0.333 BA, 86 PA, 60 AB, 28 R, 20 H, 13 RBI, 2 SB; Max Latimer, C, Sr., 26 GP, 0.303, 91 PA,66 AB,19 R, 20 H, 23 RBI, 3 SBs
Lincoln: Jacob Rabion, P, So., 50. 1 IP, 3.75 ERA, 3-3, 45 Ks, 56 H, 27 ER, 14 BB, Zachary Burch, P, Jr., 28 IP, 2.50 ERA, 24 H, 10 ER, 14 BB, 25 K; Bennett Malone, C, So., 36 GP, 0.284 BA. 114 PA. 103 AB, 2 R, 29 H, 21 RBI; Tyson Bailey, OF, Jr., 36 GP, 0.269 BA, 99 PA, 78 AB, 17 R, 21 H, 10 RBI, 7 SBs
Maclay: Jack Koon, P/Utility, Jr., 34.2 IP, 3.84 ERA, 57 Ks, 24 H, 19 ER, 25 BB; 0.306, 75 PA, 49 AB, 20 R, 15 H, 14 RBI, 1 HR; Ben Burdette, 1B, Sr., 23 GP, 0.298 BA, 76 PA, 57 AB, 20 R, 17 H, 16 RBI, 1 HR; Nolan Roberts, P, So., 23 IP, 1.22 ERA, 4-0, 27 K, 17 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 BB
Madison County: Brett Harper, Jr., SS/INF/P: 22 GP, 0.312 BA, 82 PA, 64 AB, 18 R, 20 H, 16 RBI, 8 SB; 17 IP, 1.24 ERA, 8 K, 12 H, 9 ER, 9 BB; Myron Mobley, C, So., 23 GP, 0. 273 BA, 69 PA, 55 AB, 13 R, 15 H, 20 RBI, 1 HR, 7 SB; Harper Bass, OF, Jr., 22 GP, 0.417 BA, 55 PA, 48 AB, 14 R, 20 H, 4 RBI, 1 HR, 2 SBs
Munroe: Jon Gay, 2B Sr., 23 GP, 0.382, 75 PA, 55 AB, 25 R, 21 H, 23 RBI, 2 HRs, 16 SBs; Jayden Wright-Deweese, 2B, 23 GP, 0.392 BA, 768 PA. 51 AB, 20 H, 15 RBI, 7 SBs
North Florida Christian: Bryson Bonds, Sr., P, 41.1 IP, 3.22 ERA, 39 H,19 ER, 29 BB, 48 Ks; Jason Freeman, Jr., SS, 26 GP, 0.310 BA, 93 PA, 71 AB, .310 BA, 25 R, 22 H, 16 SBs; Brent Tolley, So., 3B, 93 AB, 71 AB, .311 BA, 23 H, 14 RBI, 6 SBs; Brigs Sparkman So, C, 26 GP, 100 PA, 68 AB, 0.265 BA, 12 R, 18 H, 17 RBI, 2 HRs, 5 SBs
Rickards: Jarquez Jackson, Jr, OF, 25 GP, 94 PA, 65 AB, 0.354 BA, 23 H, 23 R, 14 RBI, 29 SBs; Dylan Brown, Jr., SS, 24 GP, 0.304 BA, 66 PA, 56 AB, 12 R, 17 H, 14 RBI, 6 SB; Kai Strong-Johnson, Jr, INF, 20 GP, 56 PA, 47 AB, 0.298 avg, 14 H, 12 R, 13 RBI, 2 HRs; Carlos Rolle, Sr, 1B, 83 PA, 69 AB, 0.290 BA, 20 H, 21 R,10 RBI, 12 SBs; Antwan Hamm, Sr., SS, 21 GP, 62 PA, 53 AB, 0.283 avg, 15 H, 14 R, 11 RBI,1 HR
St. John Paul II: Michael Rice Jr., 1B/P, 27 GP, 0.320 BA, 90 PA, 75 AB, 13 R, 24 H, 12 RBI; 22 IP, 2.23 ERA, 3-1, 17 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 19 BB, 30 K
Taylor County: Ladyn Lopez, 2B, Jr., 20 GP, 0.371 BA, 69 PA, 62 AB, 6 R, 23 H, 10 RBI, 4 SBs; Drayden Flowers, OF, Fr, 21 GP, 0.362 BA, 75 PA, 58 AB, 13 R, 21 H, 10 RBI, 4 SBs
Wakulla: Landon Lawrence, P, Jr., 31.7 IP, 1.75 ERA, 2-1, 24 H, 8 ER, 11 BB, 25 K; Kendall Wimes, C, So, 27 GP, 0.360 BA, 88 PA, 75 AB, 21 R, 27 H, 14 RBI, 1 HR, 11 SB; Sam Bruce, OF, Sr., 25 GP, 0.301 BA, 93 PA, 73 AB, 15 R, 22 H, 14 RBI
Wakulla Christian: Jay Brown, SS, Sr, 20 GP, 0.520 BA, 76 PA, 50 AB, 40 R, 26 H, 18 RBI, 28 SBs
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Meet the All-Big Bend baseball team, player and pitcher of the year
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr. and Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Peter Holland Jr. and Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
