A Season to Remember
The Big Rapids Cardinals have cemented their place in local baseball lore after capturing a fourth consecutive league championship and adding a first district title since 2018 in the 2026 season. The team finished with a 25‑9 record overall and went 10‑0 in CSAA Red Division play, a perfect conference slate that underscored their dominance.
Guiding the squad to those heights has been head coach Alec Gary, whose steady leadership produced a season that blended veteran poise with promising youth. Gary says the core talent that helped secure this year’s success provides a solid foundation for the program to stay among the region’s elite.
Five Cardinals earned All‑Central State Activities Association Red Division honors, highlighting the depth of talent on the roster. Seniors Cole Haist, Kurt Wilber, Brody Ososki, and Jonathan Losinski were all named to the first team, while junior Brayden Scholz received honorable‑mention recognition.
Haist, a dual threat as pitcher and first baseman, posted a 9‑1 record with a 1.45 ERA while batting .286 and driving in 26 runs. Losinski, the outfield anchor, hit .443 with 33 RBIs, two homers, 23 stolen bases and 40 runs scored. Wilber, the catcher, batted .361 and contributed 27 RBIs, 38 runs and nine steals. Ososki, the shortstop, compiled a .369 average, 38 hits, 27 RBIs and 34 runs. Scholz, a junior, went 6‑1 on the mound with a 3.56 ERA and added a .355 batting average, 14 steals and 19 RBIs.
Despite losing nine seniors to graduation, Gary remains optimistic. He believes the blend of returning talent and the momentum built this year will keep the Cardinals competitive in the coming seasons.