Midlands 2026 Baseball Excellence
The State’s 2026 all‑area baseball teams for the Midlands region have been unveiled, spotlighting the cream of the crop from across the area. At the center of the celebration is Tyler Hernandez of AC Flora, who has been named the Player of the Year for 2026. Hernandez combined a perfect 10‑0 record on the mound with a 1.31 earned run average and 74 strikeouts in 54.2 innings, while also batting .418 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 34 RBIs at the plate.
His dual‑threat performance epitomizes the modern high school star. Hernandez’s commitment to USC Aiken adds a collegiate dimension to a season that saw him dominate both as a pitcher and a hitter, earning him the top honor in the region.
Joining Hernandez on the roster are several other standout athletes whose names have become synonymous with excellence this spring. Zak Perry from Gray Collegiate earned the readers’ choice Player of the Year accolade, while Banks Alexander of River Bluff posted a .394 average, five home runs, 25 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Dylan Hernandez of AC Flora, another Floridian standout, hit .371 with 10 doubles, four homers and 32 RBIs and has pledged to the College of Charleston.
The depth of talent extends beyond the headline names. Will Spotts from Cardinal Newman, Thomas Bishop of Camden, and Logan Crain from Lugoff‑Elgin each contributed impressive statistics — Bishop batting .444 with 23 stolen bases and a commitment to USC Sumter, Crain delivering 33 RBIs and a pledge to Florence‑Darlington Tech, and Spotts delivering a .298 average with seven home runs. Two‑way players such as Braydon Hallman (Virginia Commonwealth) and Monty Lafitte (also AC Flora) further illustrate the region’s versatile skill sets.
Pitchers across the board posted eye‑catching numbers, from Ethan Offing of Dutch Fork, who posted a .449 average with five homers and a commitment to Clemson, to Christian Spivey of Lexington, who hit .397 and will play at South Carolina. Roper Wentzky of AC Flora, Dillon Woods of White Knoll, and Ty Abrams of Newberry each added double‑digit strikeout totals, underscoring the strength of the local arms.
The roster also features a host of college commitments that read like a who’s who of the Southeast’s baseball programs. From Charlie Scott’s .446 average and 35 RBIs that earned him a spot at The Citadel, to Mac Berry’s 7‑0 record, 1.83 ERA and a future in the Air Force, the list of signings spans USC Beaufort, Montreat College, Newberry, and beyond. Even the pitchers — Sam McCutcheon, Kitt McLauchlin, Grant Royer, and Brogan Sox — have secured spots at institutions ranging from Florence‑Darlington Tech to USC Sumter.
All of these performances are compiled by Lou Bezjak, the High School Sports Prep Coordinator for The State and the Island Packet, a two‑time South Carolina Sports Writer of the Year whose work continues to shape the narrative of high school athletics in the Palmetto State.