The 2026 News‑Herald High School Baseball All‑Stars list has been released, spotlighting the region’s most dominant players and the coaches who guided them to remarkable seasons. From historic career milestones to breakout performances, this year’s honorees reflect the depth of talent across Ohio’s high school diamonds.
Player of the Year: Deacon Nelson
Deacon Nelson, a senior from University, earned Player of the Year honors after guiding his Preppers to three regional appearances and three championship finals over four varsity seasons. His leadership translated into a .429 batting average, 23 runs and seven doubles, while also contributing a 1.36 ERA and 79 strikeouts on the mound.
Coach of the Year: Michael Sweeney
Coach Michael Sweeney of Chagrin Falls was recognized as Coach of the Year after steering his team to a 20‑win season and a regional berth. Under his guidance, the squad combined solid pitching with a balanced lineup, producing standout performances from players such as Crew Bellan, who posted five wins and a 0.86 ERA with 45 strikeouts.
Other notable performers included Patrick Brancel of Berkshire, who hit .444 with four home runs despite a torn UCL, and Tanner Brandt from Hawken, who batted .387 with a home run, 29 runs and eight doubles. Lucci Cantini of Kirtland matched a .444 average with two homers and 14 runs, while Tyler Fink of West Geauga posted a .500 average, two homers and 13 runs.
Rising Stars and Notable Performances
The all‑star roster also celebrates a host of emerging talents. Brayden Mann of Lake Catholic hit .456 with 14 runs and 10 doubles, while Trent Taylor of Perry recorded 26 runs and six doubles. Cole Twardokus from Hawken added four home runs and 28 runs, and Bryce Vidovic of West Geauga batted .338 with two homers and 26 runs. Additional standouts such as Ethan Baker (University), Ash Martin (Chagrin Falls) and Sean Pitrone (Gilmour) contributed .382‑.412 averages, multiple home runs and solid run production.
Pitchers dominated the conversation as well. Jack Watson of Chagrin Falls posted seven wins with a 1.36 ERA and 79 strikeouts, while Ryan Higginbotham of Riverside posted a 1.73 ERA across seven wins. Gavi Lappen of Beachwood and Landyn Rossi of Andrews Osborne each delivered sub‑2.00 ERAs, underscoring the region’s depth in arms.
The honor roll also recognized players from a variety of schools, including Kenston’s Graysen Bischoff, Chardon’s Jayden Buth, and Madison’s Eddy G’Vora, each posting strong batting averages and power numbers. Meanwhile, multi‑sport athletes like Aiden Englehart of Harvey and Henry Gonakis of VASJ combined .500 averages with impact on the basepaths.