Lexington high school baseball guide: Sayre leads stacked pack of contenders
Arguably, one of the best baseball prospects in the country.
A battle-tested catcher who starred at quarterback.
Four preseason top 25 teams all with traditions of excellence.
There’s no shortage of exciting players and storylines in baseball-rich Lexington, which includes one of the most hotly contested districts in the state, the 43rd, the only KHSAA baseball division in which all five teams have won a state championship — four of them in the past 25 years.
But the city’s other district, the 42nd, which also includes Scott County, has been even tougher at the top in recent seasons.
That seems unlikely to change in 2026: PrepBaseballReport.com’s Preseason Power 25 has three teams from the 42nd — No. 4 Sayre, No. 11 Frederick Douglass and No. 25 Henry Clay — and Lexington Catholic at No. 7 in the 43rd. It doesn’t get much easier in the 11th Region outside of Lexington with Madison Central ranked No. 15.
Here’s a look at the Lexington baseball landscape in order of the team’s preseason ranking (or order of finish last season for unranked teams), including top players and coaches’ comments.
This year’s record is through Tuesday, March 24. Stats are from last season. Statewide rankings are according to PrepBaseballReport.com. All comments in quotes are from the coach’s responses to our Herald-Leader preseason survey.
Sayre
Last season: 30-7; 42nd District champion; 11th Region champion.
Rank: No. 4.
Big hitters: Gary Gibson, RHP/OF, Sr. (.346, 35 RBI, 37 H, 39 R, 18 BB, 11 HR, 12 SB); Lachlan “Banks” Heinrich, RHP/SS, Sr. (.169, 10 H, 11 R, 17 BB); Camden Stout, RHP/OF, Sr. (.211, 8 RBI, 12 H, 11 R, 22 BB); Blake Miniard, OF, Sr. (.228, 17 RBI, 13 H, 8 R).
On the bump: Gibson, RHP/OF, Sr. (did not pitch in 2025; 2024 stats: 8 starts, 43 IP, 2.60 ERA, 1-4, 70 K); Stout, RHP/OF, Sr. (0.76 ERA, 27.2 IP, 4-0, 38 K, 2 SV); Heinrich, RHP/SS, Sr. (5 starts, 21 IP, 4.00 ERA, 1-0, 22 K, 1 SV).
College commits: Stout (Centre College).
Notes: Gibson’s 11 home runs as a junior were tops in the 11th and outpaced all but two of the region’s teams (Madison Southern 19; Great Crossing 11). His offseason travel team, Canes National, operates in partnership with the New York Mets. He’s one of several “legitimate” two-way guys on the roster and among “the top players in the country, much less the state of Kentucky.” Heinrich has been a “great leader and mentor” for the Spartans. Big things are expected from Stout, who has “immense talent” and “a knack for winning big ball games.”
Coach Kevin Clary says: “We tell our guys every single day that ‘Competition kills complacency!’ No one cares what we did last year. You have to go out and embrace the opportunity to compete in the best district in the state and let the chips fall where they may.”
Lexington Catholic
Last season: 22-8; 43rd District tournament champion; 11th Region tournament runner-up.
Rank: No. 7.
Big hitters: Brady Wasik, C/INF, Sr. (.309, 32 RBI, 30 H, 20 R); Bennie Lawrence, OF, Sr. (.271, 15 RBI, 26 H, 29 R, 19 SB, 20 BB); Baird Woodall, SS/OF, So. (.377, 11 RBI, 26 H, 19 R); John Crandall, MIF, So. (.288, 11 RBI, 17 H, 13 R, 10 SB, 8 BB).
On the bump: Eamon Hughes, LHP, Jr. (4 starts, 19.1 IP, 2-1, 2.90 ERA, 15 K); Will Mischel, RHP, Sr. (3 starts, 12 IP, 2-0, 9 K, 2.92 ERA).
College commits: Lawrence and Mischel (Transylvania).
Notes: The Knights graduated their top three pitchers from last year’s 11th runner-up. Wasik, who threw 16 TDs and rushed for 10 as the Knights’ quarterback in the fall, will help ease things for a greener pitching staff with work ethic and leadership behind the plate his head coach calls “contagious.” Woodall is respectful as kids come and “understands the game way beyond his age.” Lawrence is eager to help lead the program and “everyone wants to be around” him, which helps. Crandall is part of a young core and will “do whatever the team needs.”
Coach Scott Downs says: “We are going to be young but very talented. It’s always about pitching, defense, and timely hitting. Do the little things and have fun!”
Frederick Douglass
Last season: 19-20; 42nd District runner-up; 11th Region semifinalist.
Rank: No. 11.
Big hitters: Connor Harris, RHP/1B, So. (.248, 27 H, 13 RBI, 12 R, 12 BB, 7 2B); Gabe Wright, C, Sr. (.191, 18 H, 14 RBI, 6 R, 21 BB); Alex Whitaker, OF/RHP, So. (.095, 2 H, 3 RBI, 4 BB).
On the bump: Braxton Hensley, RHP/MIF, Sr. (9 starts, 39.1 IP, 4.63 ERA, 3-5, 25 K); Harris, RHP/1B, So. (8 starts, 30.2 IP, 4.34 ERA, 1-3, 23 K); Whitaker, OF/RHP, So. (5 starts, 35.2 IP, 1.57 ERA, 5-2, 36 K).
College commits: Grant Evans (Georgetown College); Hensley and Wright (Kentucky Wesleyan); Martin Vander Plaats (University of the Cumberlands).
Notes: Whitaker’s batting stats as a freshman don’t scream “big hitter” but he’s developed into “a serious threat” at the plate and is eager to show it this spring. “He has physically transformed his body and it has taken his game to the next level.” Harris, who’s sprouted to 6-foot-4, has improved his pitch control and thrown upwards of 89 miles per hour. Hensley “is poised for a big senior year” as the anchor in the Broncos’ pitching rotation. Wright “looks to lead the offense” while building on his status as one of Kentucky’s “top defensive catchers.”
Coach Braden Johnson says: “After graduating six starting position players and three contributing pitchers in 2025, we will have a lot to make up for. However, we have a blend of extremely talented underclassmen and rising upperclassmen that are ready to take the leap forward. As a coaching staff, we are telling the players that there are starting spots all over the field that are up for grabs, they just have to win them.”
Henry Clay
Last season: 18-17.
Preseason rank: No. 25.
Big hitters: John “JT” Ritchie, IF/RHP, Sr. (.357, 41 H, 19 RBI, 21 R, 8 2B, 13 BB, 12 SB); Parker Mays, OF/RHP, Sr. (.274, 23 H, 11 RBI, 15 R, 10 HBP); Luke Jackson, Jr, Jr. (.269, 21 H, 18 RBI).
On the bump: Turner Sparks, RHP, Sr. (10 starts, 50 IP, 2.80 ERA, 4-4, 43 K); Richie, IF/RHP, Sr. (9 starts, 44 IP, 2.23 ERA, 5-4, 58 K).
College commits: Alex Elmadolar and Mays (Transylvania); Garrett O’Donnell (Hanover); Ritchie (Frontier Community College).
Notes: Henry Clay play will play home games at Legends Field until 2029, when campus reconstruction at the school is expected to be complete. O’Donnell, a senior catcher, started as a sophomore but missed his junior season after having knee surgery. “Great player but also a leader on and off the field.” He and junior Luke Jackson, who started in O’Donnell’s absence, should make for a formidable duo behind the plate. Keep an eye for Ritchie “to be one of the top two-way players” in the region. Sparks brings “a veteran presence” and “should be one of the top right-handed arms in the 11th Region.”
Coach Jordan Tarrence says: “We will be a veteran team with 15 seniors on the roster. Our outlook is optimistic, and we have high expectations. Our strength should be our depth in pitching, but we should be strong in the lineup as well.”
Lexington Christian Academy
Last season: 20-15; 43rd District runner-up.
This year’s start: 3-1, including Tuesday’s 6-2 win over Sayre in the 11th Region All “A” Classic Tournament.
Big hitters: Joseph Seigler, RHP/2B, Sr. (.321, 18 RBI, 34 H, 16 R, 12 BB); Sam Pearson, SS/RHP, Jr. (.282, 17 RBI, 33 H, 23 R, 21 BB, 14 SB); Tyler King, OF/RHP, Sr. (.284, 7 RBI, 23 H, 24 R, 19 B, 13 SB); Conrad Hart, 1B/OF, Jr. (.291, 7 RBI, 16 H).
On the bump: Seigler, RHP/2B, Sr. (9 starts, 49.1 IP, 7-2 1.28 ERA, 33 K); Pearson, RHP/SS, Jr. (4 starts, 26 IP, 2-1, 3.50 ERA, 40 K, 1 SV); Ben Byers, RHP, Sr. (3 starts, 16.2 IP, 0-3, 7.14 ERA, 25 K).
College commits: Byers (Frontier Community College); Ryan Disponett (Transylvania); Pearson (Virginia Tech).
Notes: Siegler, the reigning 11th Region pitcher of the year, “looks to continue his success on the mound” while bringing “stability in the middle” of LCA’s batting order. Pearson is a “spark plug” for the offense and “a top arm on the pitching staff” who’s also an anchor at shortstop. Hart “will provide some power at the plate.” Disponett, a senior, is a transfer from West Jessamine. Expect him and junior Jackson Gier, whose family moved to Lexington from Minnesota, to play significant roles.
Coach Seth Knight says: “The Eagles return some key pieces … The pitching staff will anchor this group with a number of players that are expected to contribute on the mound.”
Lafayette
Last season: 16-17.
Big hitters: Caden Herron, RHP/SS, Sr. (.307, 16 RBI, 27 H, 23 R, 21 BB, 2 HR); Ryland Messer, OF, Jr. (.318, 4 RBI, 7 H, 9 R, 1 HR); Colin Darragh, C/IF, Sr. (.190, 4 RBI, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB).
On the bump: Spencer Fuqua, RHP, Sr. (4 starts, 17.1 IP, 5.25 ERA, 2-0, 14 K); Nathan McKinney, RHP/OF, Jr. (3 starts, 20.1 IP, 2.75 ERA, 3-0, 14 K, 1 SV).
College commits: Darragh (Rose-Hulman).
Notes: The Generals graduated seven from the lineup and four top arms. Micah Joy’s experience behind the plate (89 innings) should help a returning rotation that went 7-2 in 2025. Fuqua “will have a much bigger role” for Lafayette as it looks to fortify the staff. McKinney is a strike machine and “wants the baseball in his hands when it matters.” Messer (22 AB) and Darragh (21 AB) were productive in limited trips to the plate last season. Herron started every game for the Generals in 2025.
Coach Kevin Goins says: “We enter 2026 in a gray area with a talented but overall unproven senior class to rely on. … Catching depth is definitely a strong suit.”
Bryan Station
Last season: 10-17.
Big hitters: Logan Willoite, RHP/1B, Jr. (.214, 6 RBI, 12 H, 7 R); Hudson Staton, RHP/2B, Jr. (.205, 6 RBI, 8 H, 14 BB)
On the bump: Willhoite, RHP/1B, Jr. (26.1 IP, 2.39 ERA,1-2, 1 SV); Staton, RHP/2B, Jr. (5 starts, 26.1 IP, 4.25 ERA, 23 K, 1-1)
Notes: The Defenders last year finished with a double-digit win total for the first time since 2017. Brody Doll (C/SS) is the only senior who’s logged big innings for Bryan Station. Staton and Willhoite “have put in serious offseason work” toward being two-way contributors this season. Jayce Jones (9 R, 7 SB) is another to know as a junior for the Defenders, Coach Erik Hagen said.
Coach Hagen says: “We’re looking to build on last year. We have a young talented group of eighth, ninth and 10th graders with some experienced juniors that will need to step up in the difficult 42nd District and 11th Region.”
Tates Creek
Last season: 11-17.
Big hitters: Finley Insko, C, Sr. (.256, 14 RBI, 21 H, 9 BB); Jordan Huguely, CF, Jr. (.276, 9 RBI, 16 H, 13 R); Aaron Hobson, LF/RHP, JR. (.233, 6 RBI, 14 H, 10 R, 9 BB, 5 SB)
On the bump: Blake Jones, RHP, Sr. (9 starts, 37.2 IP, 2-4, 4.65 ERA, 34 K, 1 SV); Ben Prendergast, RHP/3B, Jr. (5 starts, 24.2 IP, 0-1, 5.48 ERA, 21 K)
College commits: Jones (Murray State-football); Insko (Massachusetts Maritime Academy).
Notes: The graduation of Cooper Jackson leaves Hobson as the team’s top base-stealer. Coach Jeff Chapuran expects the rest of the team to pick up the slack on the base paths. Insko is a defensive standout who’s expected to bring some power to the middle of the order this year. He “has proven to be a tremendous leader over his career.” Jones is “battle tested” in the mighty 43rd District. Pendergast “has made a tremendous jump on the mound.”
Coach Chapuran says: “We have a large and strong junior class that will be relied on heavily. Many of them have varsity experience and have proven themselves at the varsity level. The difference will come from those who have yet to do so, but are capable.”
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Last season: 9-23.
Big hitters: Carson Quenon, RHP/OF, Sr. (.247, 22 H, 8 RBI, 12 R, 12 BB); Brady Carius, C, Jr. (.202, 13 RBI, 18 H, 9 R, 12 BB); Nick Sawyers, RHP/SS, Sr. (.230, 20 H, 14 RBI, 10 BB); Brooks White, SS/UTL, Jr. (.232, 16 H, 11 RBI, 11 R, 8 BB)
On the bump: Sawyers, RHP/SS, Sr. (10 starts, 55.2 IP, 3.14 ERA, 2-5, 39 K); Quenon, RHP/OF, Sr. (9 starts, 48.1 IP, 2.32 ERA, 1-7, 25 K); Louie DeSalvo (3 starts, 2.52 ERA, 20 K).
Notes: Quenon and Sawyers are “workhorses on the mound.” They, along with Carius as a defensive stopper, should be a sound foundation for the Bulldogs, who are seeking a region tourney bid for the first time since 2023. Carius “keeps everybody grounded” and is extremely comfortable in that role.
Coach Zach Williams says: “The difference for us this year has been controlling what we can control and executing the little things much better than the previous two years.”
