LAFAYETTE – Expectations are high with the IHSAA baseball season underway, with games having been scheduled starting April 2.
Elite talent comes in all shapes and sizes for these top seven Lafayette-area programs aiming to leave a memorable imprint on the 2026 season.
Here are the top five teams in the Lafayette area, along with teams on the bubble in the early-season power rankings.
1. Harrison (20-8, 4A)
The reigning 4A sectional champions bring back a squad loaded with talented pitching across the board. The Raiders carry five pitches that tip the radar gun over 90 miles per hour, led by senior Jeremy Lowrey, a Stetson signee. This isn’t a group that relies on beating teams with purely fastballs.
Senior Lyric Neal ( 2.59 ERA, 10 appearances, 7-1 record, 48 strikeouts, and 17 walks), who is signed to Taylor, mixes pitches well with a fastball and changeup combination, while junior Chase Gothrup (1.17 ERA, 43 strikeouts, 11 walks) and Colton Watts, signed to Anderson, fire with command.
The Raiders offense will be initiated by senior infielder and Navy football signee Jack Gonzalez (.414 batting average, three triples, four doubles, 17 RBI), junior infielder Nolan Hodnett (.338 batting average, one triple, two doubles and 17 RBIs., third baseman and Indiana Wesleyan signee Kendrick Pena (274 batting average, 19 RBIs, one triple, two doubles) and outfielder Kaden Keys (.190 with 11 RBIs) who is signed to University of Indianapolis. The combined pitching staff and experience of the lineup should be enough for Harrison to make a deep playoff run.
2. McCutcheon (16-12, 4A)
McCutcheon returns the top two players in the area in third baseman Jake Winger (career .389 batting average, four home runs, four triples, six doubles and 20 RBI in 2025) signed to Indiana and pitcher Sammy Swank (career 2.48 ERA, 33 strikeouts, five walks in 2025) signed to Kentucky. McCutcheon’s superstars helped dethrone Harrison in 2024 and will attempt to do so once again. Senior catcher Mekyel Almond (.312 batting average, one home run, three triples, seven doubles, 13 RBI) improved at the plate from an .167/.300/.214 slash line in 2024, while infielder Jonathan Riley (.400 batting average, five home runs, three triples, eight doubles, 28 RBI) solidifies the middle of the order. Second starter, Reed Grimes (2.15 ERA, 39 strikeouts, 20 walks last season), helps solidify the rotation.
3. Twin Lakes (18-10, 3A)
Senior shortstop Carson Wagner (.356 with four home runs, five triples, nine doubles, 35 RBIs, 38 runs scored, 22 stolen bases) had an explosive junior year and leads a lineup that carries a bulk of the Twin Lakes roster that captured IHSAA 3A regional and sectional titles in 2024. Complimented by Wagner is first baseman Tate Goyer (.346 batting average, six doubles, 22 RBI), junior outfielder Mason Brummett (.345 batting average, one home run, one triple, four doubles, 13 RBI), junior third baseman Keaton Miller (.383 batting average, six doubles, 14 RBI) and outfielder Cooper Dold (.430 batting average, two triples, five doubles, 14 RBI). Twin Lakes battled injuries early last season. The rotation of Brummett (2.81 ERA, 58 strikeouts, 13 walks), Miller (2.42 ERA, 38 strikeouts, 12 walks), and junior Trae Haworth (2.05 ERA, 27 innings) are capable of throwing with command. Twin Lakes in 3A will be a contender.
4. Lafayette Jeff (18-12, 4A)
A bounce back in 2025 becomes a silent contender in 2026 for Lafayette Jeff, that brings in five transfers along with key returners. Those key returners include catcher and pitcher Ben Pickering (Batted .375 with two home runs, .474 on base percentage, committed only one error) whose command of his fastball is improved and right handed 3-quarter slot pitcher Nate Hilsabeck (1.57 ERA, 6-2 record, 65 strikeouts, 25 walks) and Mason Pechin (Batted .330 with three triples, two doubles and 21 RBIs.) The Bronchos added Aidan Holle, a 6-foot-2 first baseman who excelled as an offensive lineman during the Bronchos second straight IHSAA sectional title run in football and started during Twin Lakes sectional and regional run in 2024.
5. Central Catholic (25-6, 2A)
Shortstop Mikey Stapleton (Batted .395 with six doubles, one triple, 35 RBIs, 27 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases) signed to DePauw University, leading the Knights, who have proven themselves yearly contenders in 2A. Central Catholic’s offensive and defensive depth in the infield increases with the addition of West Lafayette transfer sophomore LJ Whitford (.321 with two doubles, 18 RBIs and 10 stolen bases) and senior Alex Schummer (.303 batting average, 19 RBIs, 30 runs, five doubles, 3-1 record on the mound, 0.51 ERA in 13.2 IP as a relief pitcher) signed to William Woods.
Central Catholic rarely makes mistakes on defense and will rely on that discipline once again to navigate through 2026 with a mix of experienced seniors like Schummer and Stapleton and the high potential of Whitford. Junior Jonah Gerkey (4-0 record, 3.32 ERA in 33.2 innings) comes ready to throw major innings with Vince Telenko (7-0 record, 1.96 ERA in 39.1 innings)
On the bubble
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Who are the top 5 baseball teams in the Lafayette area?
Reporting by Ethan Hanson, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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