With the IHSAA baseball season officially finished, it’s time to unveil this year’s South Bend Tribune All-Area team. There will be nine players on the All-Area team regardless of position, with a list of honorable mentions listed in alphabetical order by school below.
The criteria was simple: consistent production and championship-level results.
Headlining the All-Area team is the South Bend Tribune’s staff pick for 2026 Player of the Year, New Prairie senior Reed Robinson. The Northern Illinois University commit led the Cougars to their fourth-straight IHSAA 3A sectional championship and a Northern Indiana Conference (NIC) championship with a .505 batting average, 48 hits, 35 runs, 28 RBIs, eight doubles, six home runs, four triples, 20 stolen bases and a 1.456 OPS.
Robinson, the 2026 NIC MVP, ended his high school baseball career as one of the most accomplished players from the area in quite some time. He earned four sectional titles, a regional championship and a state championship on top of some impressive stats at the plate while serving as New Prairie’s backstop nearly every game.
Here is the rest of the Tribune 2026 Baseball All-Area First team along with Robinson.
2026 South Bend Tribune Baseball All-Area First Team
Sullivan Kress, New Prairie: Kress had an impressive two-way senior season for the 23-7 Cougars. The Saint Xavier University commit was New Prairie’s ace with a 1.27 ERA in 55.1 innings pitched, 93 strikeouts, seven wins, an opponent batting average of .140 and a 1.03 WHIP. At the plate, he had a .447 batting average, 18 stolen bases, 42 hits, 28 RBIs, 25 runs, 10 doubles, three triples, a home run and a 1.144 OPS.
Mason Biernacki, Penn: The sophomore helped the Kingsmen make a run to the IHSAA 4A semi-state championship game with a 25-7 record. At the dish, Biernacki had three home runs, two triples, nine doubles, 23 stolen bases and 25 RBIs at the plate, batting over .380. On the mound, Biernacki picked up three saves and two wins with a 1.14 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP.
Braxton Cline, Goshen: If the nine All-Area team selections were based on positions, Cline would be the shortstop pick. He earned a spot on the team based on exemplary play for the back-to-back IHSAA 4A sectional champion RedHawks. Goshen also won the Northern Lakes Conference (NLC), finishing their season at 22-7. Cline led his group offensively with a .479 batting average, 40 runs, 46 hits, 39 RBIs, four home runs, six doubles, three triples, 24 stolen bases and a 1.293 OPS.
Finley Miller, NorthWood: Moving to another IHSAA sectional champion from the NLC, NorthWood may not have advanced to a 3A semi-state championship game were it not for the efforts of Miller. He makes the All-Area team due to his two-way prowess, with a 2.38 ERA in 56 innings pitched, six wins, 85 strikeouts and a 1.23 WHIP. At the plate, he had 46 hits, 18 stolen bases, 20 RBIs, five doubles, four triples, 34 runs, a .442 batting average and a 1.084 OPS.
Brenden Olsen, Niles: From one winner to another, the senior University of Houston commit was essential to the MHSAA Division 2 district champion Niles Vikings. Making the All-Area team, he hit .446 with a 1.363 OPS, 50 hits, 15 doubles, seven home runs, 23 RBIs and 25 stolen bases
Ryder Richard, Brandywine: Also a MHSAA district champion, Richard finished his senior All-Area caliber season with a school record 19 doubles as the Bobcats won 30 games and their first Division 3 district title since 2008. Richard also compiled 52 hits on a batting average higher than .500, 37 runs, five home runs and 33 RBIs at the plate with four wins, three saves, 51 strikeouts and a 0.67 ERA in 33 innings.
Zack Rouch, Bremen: The last champion on this All-Area team is the senior Spalding University commit, who helped lead the Lions to an IHSAA 2A sectional championship. He led the squad in batting average (.488), hits (39), RBIs (35), triples (three), home runs (four) and OPS (1.374). Rouch also hit six doubles, scored 14 runs and stole four bases.
Drew Bingamon, Triton: With one more spot to fill on the All-Area team, this honoree had to be extremely productive to earn it having not won any state tournament championships in his senior season. That’s exactly what Triton senior Drew Bingamon did, and then some. For the 24-5 Trojans, Bingamon hit .490, stole 25 bases, compiled 47 hits, scored 46 runs, drove in 17 runs, hit eight doubles, four triples and two home runs with a 1.276 OPS. In 66 and 2/3 innings pitched, Bingamon had a 0.63 ERA, six wins, 89 strikeouts, a .209 opponent batting average and a 0.95 WHIP.
All-Area Second Team
Eleven players earned their way onto the all-area second team.
Joey Hauger, Concord: The senior Indiana Tech commit was the 18-9 Minutemen’s ace with a 2.00 ERA, five wins, 66 strikeouts, 56 innings pitched, an opponent batting average of .211 and a WHIP of 1.11.
Max Shreiner, Elkhart: The senior led the 12-16 Lions with a .431 batting average, 23 RBIs, 33 runs, seven home runs and a 1.511 OPS. He also had nine stolen bases, 28 hits, five doubles and two triples.
Brayden Fischer, Edwardsburg: The sophomore led the 27-8 Eddies with 43 hits, 39 RBIs, 12 doubles and 11 stolen bases. He also had a .430 batting average, 18 runs, a triple, a home run and a 1.091 OPS.
Broderic Kaler, Jimtown: The senior stood out for the 13-12 Jimmies with a .442 batting average, 38 runs, 34 hits, 18 RBIs, seven doubles, a triple, five home runs, a 1.314 OPS and 15 stolen bases.
Mekhi Pulluaim, John Glenn: The junior stood out for the 16-9 Falcons with a .370 batting average, 30 runs, 30 hits, 23 RBIs, eight doubles, four home runs, 10 stolen bases and a 1.06 OPS.
Landon Johns, Mishawaka: The senior led the Cavemen with a 1.79 ERA in 39 innings pitched, striking out 46 batters, allowing an opponent batting average of .184, earning three wins and finishing with a 1.21 WHIP.
Isaac Gill, Mishawaka Marian: The junior Taylor University commit led the Knights with a 1.69 ERA in 58 innings pitched, 67 strikeouts and a 1.16 WHIP. He also allowed an opponent batting average of .238 and earned three wins.
Cayden Stockbridge, Penn: The senior Purdue University commit was the IHSAA 4A regional champion Kingsmen’s ace with 99 strikeouts, eight wins and a 3.72 ERA.
Weston Hoke, South Bend Adams: The senior Bethel University commit hit .482, put up a 1.106 OPS, drove in 18 runs, collected 40 hits, stole 36 bases, and hit two doubles and triples each.
James Criniti, South Bend Saint Joseph: The junior led the 16-10 huskies with 34 stolen bases, a .419 batting average, a 1.021 OPS, 36 hits, 25 runs, 23 RBIs and two triples. He also had four doubles and a home run.
Jacob Snyder, South Bend Saint Joseph: The senior Ohio Northern University was the Huskies’ ace with a 2.61 ERA in 52 and 2/3 innings, four wins, 75 strikeouts and a .197 opponent batting average. He also finished with a 1.14 WHIP.
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: 2026 South Bend Tribune Baseball All-Area team filled with champions
Reporting by Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
