The 2026 high school baseball season in Iowa has kicked off with palpable excitement, as teams across the state gear up for the upcoming IHSAA state tournaments in Cedar Rapids and Carroll.
Rising Stars of the 2026 Season
Among the standout performances, West Marshall’s Beckham DeSotel has emerged as an offensive powerhouse, posting a 5‑for‑8 line with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and ten RBI over two games.
North Polk’s Bryce Burke has also impressed, going 7‑for‑12 with a triple, a home run, twelve runs scored and seven RBI across five outings.
Baxter High’s Cael Wishman has been a catalyst for his team’s success, batting .545 (6‑for‑11) with a .688 on‑base percentage, two home runs, six RBI and a perfect 7‑for‑7 on stolen bases, helping the team capture its first Iowa Star South Conference title and a first‑round district victory.
Other notable contributions include Cal Heydon of Coon Rapids‑Bayard, who hit .444 with four walks, a single, a triple, two home runs, eight RBI and six runs scored in three games, and Max Breeding of Winterset, who went 6‑for‑11 with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI over four games.
Pitching highlights have added another layer of drama, with Kale Jensen of Atlantic delivering a five‑inning no‑hitter against Red Oak and Lincoln Berding of Mason City striking out 18 while allowing just one hit in a 3‑0 shutout of Clear Lake.
The depth of talent extends to Cannen Beaumont of Denver, who posted a .636 average with three doubles and six RBI, and Tyler Nuss of Denver, who combined a .429 batting average with a .500 OBP and six runs scored while also throwing a six‑inning no‑hitter against Highland.
With the regular season winding down, the focus now shifts to the state tournaments in Cedar Rapids and Carroll, where these emerging stars will look to translate their early‑season heroics into postseason success.