The 2026 All-County high school baseball selections reveal a county where tradition meets unexpected breakthroughs. Lakeland Christian entered the season as the clear favorite, and the team’s dominance was rewarded with district and regional championships. At the heart of that success is Gavin Byrd, who shared co-player of the year honors and proved to be a relentless hitter.
Rising Stars and Record Breakers
Among the pitchers, Jameson McGuire of Santa Fe Catholic stood out with a microscopic 1.00 ERA and 99 strikeouts, anchoring a staff that kept opponents off balance. At the plate, Byrd batted .429 with a .565 on-base percentage and a 1.422 OPS, while Parker Kant contributed a .391 average, 32 RBIs and a .964 OPS. Winter Haven’s resurgence was led by Jody Wilson, whose 1.37 ERA complemented a .360 batting line, and Deric Morris, who hit .360 with 15 RBIs. McKeel’s dramatic climb included Jorge Cordova’s .342 average, 5 home runs and 29 RBIs, and Wyatt Thomas, who posted a .391 average with 4 homers and 20 RBIs. Anthony Iatarola from George Jenkins added a strong pitching presence, while Christopher Glover contributed solid secondary-team pitching numbers.
Coaching Excellence
David Schafer earned Coach of the Year after guiding Winter Haven to the regional finals, a turnaround that saw the Blue Devils win 11 of 12 games and capture the district title. His blend of strategic pitching rotations and aggressive base-running left a measurable imprint on the team’s performance.
The breadth of talent extended beyond the first team, with second-team members such as Brody Ray, Cooper Carbonara, Kole Walker and Carson Dicks proving that depth will be a key factor next season. As the county looks ahead, the mix of seasoned leaders and emerging sophomores promises another competitive year.