CENTRE COUNTY — The 2026 high school baseball season is about to get started and all six Centre County teams are gearing up for the first games of their seasons.
Bellefonte has in fact already begun its campaign with a 14-1 win over Derry on March 14, but because of some bad weather, most teams will not start until later this week.
Here is an early look at each county team and the opening schedules:
Bald Eagle Area
2025 Record: 4-15
After a difficult four-win season in 2025 the Bald Eagles will be aiming for improvement in 2026, but it will not be easy.
The team lost its top hitter in Brayden Dubbs and its leader in wins and earned run average in Wyatt Kowalczyk to graduation.
But the No. 2 and 3 hitters, Luke Hosband and Teagun Runkle, will return as will Kaleb Irion, Isaac Johnson and Hayden Stimer.
Irion also took a win on the mound, as did Hosband, and there will be four other players with pitching experience returning as well.
The LHAC schedule is challenging as usual with early league games against Hollidaysburg and Huntingdon.
Schedule:
3/19, at Huntingdon
3/23, Philipsburg-Osceola
3/27, Chestnut Ridge
Bellefonte
2025 Record: 13-9, District 6 4A Championship and PIAA tournament appearance.
The Raiders are coming off a very successful season, and if their opening game is any indication, they will be at it again in 2026.
Bellefonte rolled over Derry on March 14, 14-1, with an 11-hit attack and a 2-hit, 1-run pitching performance by Zach Lehman.
Isaac Gall had two hits and four RBIs in the win, while Lehman had three hits and Evan Mattern and Carsen Henry each had two.
The Raiders broke the game open with eight runs in the second inning to take a 10-0 lead and then closed it out with three more in the bottom of the fourth.
Bellefonte will now look to keep it going as it enters LHAC play with upcoming games against Central and Bishop Carroll.
Schedule:
3/19, at Central
3/20 Bishop Carroll
3/23, Huntingdon
Penns Valley
2025 Record: 1-19
After a difficult one-win season in 2025, the Penns Valley Rams’ fortunes could be looking up with a total of nine junior contributors from last season and two sophomores returning for the new season.
Fletcher and Carter Ironside, Gavin Neidigh, Quinn Spargo, Dylan Dashem, Austin Fetterolf, Noah Patel, Brayden Kurtz and Carter Shouey all look to compete in ‘26 along with 2025 sophomores Spencer Althouse and Mason Brodzina.
The Rams will open LHAC play with Bishop Guilfoyle and Huntingdon in Week 1.
Schedule:
3/19, at Guilfoyle
3/20, Huntingdon
3/23, Bellwood-Antis
Philipsburg-Osceola
2025 Record: 13-5
The P-O Mounties had a strong year in 2025 with a 13-win season and a D6 playoff appearance.
However, with a wealth of talent returning, P-O is a definite contender in the district this year and beyond.
The Mounties return key players including pitchers Nick DeSimone and Connor Guenot along with Fischer White, Zach Yoder, Archer Baughman, Parker Lamb and Jake Lucas. The team appears to be strong in all three phases — offense, defense and pitching and will be helped by its deep experience.
P-O will jump right in this season with LHAC games against Hollidaysburg and BEA to start off.
Schedule:
3/19, at Hollidaysburg
3/23, at BEA
3/25, Bellwood-Antis
St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy
2025 Record: 4-13
The SJCA WolfPack is another area team in rebuilding mode after a four-win season in 2025.
SJCA finished last year with only one win in its last 10 games, against Line Mountain, but the team does return most of its top players including all three top hitters and pitchers.
Caleb Foytack leads the group with a .367 average last year and a team-leading 5.13 ERA.
Also coming back are Braeden Miller, Haden Lingle and Charles Ramos.
SJCA will begin the 2026 season with Tri-Valley Conference games against Greenwood and Juniata.
Schedule:
3/18, at Greenwood
3/25, at Juniata
3/27, Newport
State College
2025 Record: 10-11
The State College Little Lions finished the 2025 season with a shot at the PIAA tournament, but a loss to McDowell in the sub-regional ended their season.
SC shows potential for ‘26 with team leaders Rowan Walker, Ryden Walker and Jacob Hall returning.
It will not be easy as the Mid-Penn schedule will be challenging and begin with away games at arch-rivals Altoona and Mifflin County.
Schedule:
3/23, at Altoona
3/25, at Mifflin County
3/28, Easton
