The 2026 IHSAA baseball state tournament continues Saturday with regionals.
Here are the top-10 games on an action-packed regional slate.
10. Lapel (16-7) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (24-6), Class 2A
Lapel’s win over Guerin Catholic is a statement win for a Class 2A team. Hogan Blair, Shaun Jarrett and Jaxon Cripe had two RBIs each against the Golden Eagles. Batting average leader Jacoby Nunley (.433) added two hits and scored two runs. I bring up Guerin Catholic because Lafayette Central Catholic lost to the Golden Eagles 12-1. Neither team faced Guerin’s ace Tate Troxell, but if the Golden Eagles are a good parameter, Lapel could be poised for a deeper postseason run than its record would have you presume. But LCC has the championship pedigree with nine total state titles.
9. Hauser (18-4) vs. North Decatur (15-8), Class 1A
These teams split during the regular season with North Decatur taking the first game 10-9, and Hauser winning the second game 7-1. Matthew Fields, Henry Kinker and Grayson Downey had three RBIs each in the Chargers win. Stryker Gill struck out 17 and allowed just two hits in the second game. Hauser’s pitching depth makes it well suited to handle a win-or-go-home situation, but North Decatur’s offense has shown the ability to do damage against the Jets. Usually, pitching wins, but nothing is ever predictable during postseason baseball.
8. Heritage Christian (16-9-1) vs, Hagerstown (21-6), Class 2A
Hagerstown improved its record by five games thanks to a talented group of sophomores. Graham Vinson leads the Tigers with a .391 batting average and four home runs. Jack Rector is batting .356 with three home runs and Jaxon Hale is batting .342 with two home runs and 40 stolen bases. Fellow sophomores Kaden Hall and Nolan Cheeseman are the Tigers top two arms. Heritage Christian knocked off reigning Class 1A champion Lutheran to advance to the regional round. Games against Guerin Catholic, Brebeuf Jesuit and Cathedral (at Victory Field) should have the Eagles battle tested and ready for the big stage. Can an upstart Hagerstown team play above its experience level?
7. Greencastle (24-4) vs. University (20-10), Class 2A
Greencastle is led by Wright State commit junior pitcher Bryton Gregg. Gregg has allowed just one earned run in 26⅓ innings. University’s talented offense led by Tulane commit Beckett Suh and Princeton commit Ryan Castetter will have to produce for the Trailblazers. If the offense can’t come through, University will need more from its pitchers. Senior Cooper Cammack has great stuff, but his command can leave him at times. Sophomore Finn Steiner (0.93 ERA) has been dominant in short stints. He’s allowed just one earned run over his last eight appearances.
6. New Prairie (23-6) vs. Andrean (27-3)
Can anyone beat Andrean? The reigning Class 3A champions have dominated their competition all season and look poised for another trip to Victory Field. Illinois commit and lefty Kaden Maxwell is the 59ers top pitcher. Junior Chase Nelson is short at 5-foot-6, but he’s one of the best pure hitters in the state. Northern Illinois commit Parker Robinson leads New Prairie. He’s batting .505 with five home runs. Seniors Sullivan Kress and Colton Griffiths are the Cougars top arms. If you want to root against the juggernaut, this game at the South Bend Adams regional (Four Winds Field) is one to check out.
5. Gibson Southern (25-6) vs. Evansville Memorial (17-8), Class 3A
There’s so much overlap between these two teams schedule wise. Gibson Southern’s six losses came against Evansville North (twice), Evansville Mater Dei, Mooresville and Castle. Evansville Memorial also lost to Evansville North twice, Mater Dei and Castle, but Memorial also lost two Jasper and Southridge, teams that Gibson Southern beat. Schedule scouting gives Gibson Southern the upper hand, but there should be no secrets between two teams that know each other well. Crewe Hasenour (.456 batting average) and Collin Higginbotham (.317, four home runs) lead the Titans offense. Western Kentucky commit Jake Mezzier is their top pitcher. Grayson Marx (.382) and Indiana commit Luke Brown (.349, two home runs) lead the Tigers. Ryan Obenchain is Memorial’s top pitcher.
4. Cathedral (20-9-1) vs. Shelbyville (20-4), Class 3A
Cathedral hasn’t faced much challenge this postseason, but Shelbyville pitcher Aiden Smith will be one of the toughest arms the Fighting Irish have faced all season. Smith is 7-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 77 strikeouts over 42⅓ innings. The Kentucky commit has double-digit strikeouts in five of his eight starts, including a 14-strikeout performance — in five innings — against Greenfield-Central. Smith is also the Golden Bears top bat, batting .479 with seven home runs. Cathedral is led by Army commit senior shortstop Eli Sensabaugh and senior corner infielder Michael Gallagher. Henry Haley and Connor Christiansen are the Fighting Irish’s top arms. Christiansen has explosive stuff, but he must learn to harness it.
3. Goshen (22-6) vs. Lake Central (24-8), Class 4A
Goshen fell to eventual Class 4A state champion Valparaiso in the semistate round last season, and the RedHawks have a team capable of another deep run. Standing in their way, however, is perennial powerhouse Lake Central, the 2024 Class 4A champions. Expect a well-played game between two great teams. Senior Braxton Cline leads the Goshen offense batting .484 with four home runs. Senior Ryen Diaz is Goshen’s top pitcher. Ball State commit Brayden Wells leads Lake Central’s offense (.432 batting average). Oklahoma commit junior shortstop Parker Robinson has been a steady contributor since his freshman season.
2. Center Grove (25-1) vs. Richmond (13-14)
Center Grove’s scare against Perry Meridian pumped the Trojans way up on our list of top games. The Trojans have Division I commits up and down its roster, but their toughest opponent is often themselves. Will the close call against the Falcons energize the Trojans? Or will they continue to let teams hang around long enough to pull off an upset? Weston Jones (.410 batting average) leads the Richmond offense. Zander Judy is the Red Devils top pitcher.
1. Penn (23-6) vs. Valparaiso (23-7)
Valparaiso won its first baseball state championship last season. Penn, a perennial powerhouse, owns six state titles, its most recent coming in 2023. The upstart power versus the traditional power is another game filled with talented players on both sides. Seniors D.J. Malloy (.408 batting average) and John A. Logan commit Trent Gill (.372, three home runs) lead Valparaiso’s offense. Lucas Haas is the Vikings top pitcher. Penn pitcher Purdue commit Cayden Stockbridge is one of the best pitchers in the state. Junior Grady Harrell is a sweet-swinging left-handed shortstop.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ranking the 10 best Indiana high school baseball regional championship games
Reporting by Akeem Glaspie, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Akeem Glaspie, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
