THE 2026 south hamilton BASEBALL team includes, front row (left to right): Oliver Hetland, Mason Ostrem, Kash Northrop. Middle: Cooper Stuck, Garrett Johnson, Jackson Olmstead, Holden Moore, Wyatt Gelder, Hagen Klein. Back: Liam Ealy, Tutus Herrick, Sam Koehnk, Gaige Willis, Parker Stuck, Brody Harris, Spencer Davis. (DFJ photo by Angela Hewitt)

Coming off a five-win season in 2025, the South Hamilton baseball team looks to put together a more productive campaign on the diamond this summer under head coach Cole Swenson.

Seven key players return for the Hawks, led by 22-game starters Garrett Johnson and Brody Harris. Titus Herrick, Parker Stuck, Liam Ealy, Holden Moore and Wyatt Gelder all started games and are back.

South Hamilton will need to replace the likes of Carson Gibbs, Brayden Moore, Andrew Jensen, Connor Deppe, Landon Sogard and Braden Young. Sogard and Young led the pitching staff, recording four wins and 89 strikeouts.

“We have a very tight-knit team,” Swenson said. “They want to get better and are working each and every single day to make that happen.”

Johnson made four starts on the mound as a freshman, appearing in 12 games while recording 18 strikeouts. Harris is the only other player back with pitching experience from a year ago, as he made four appearances and two starts, striking out five.

At the plate, Johnson tied for the team lead in RBI, Harris had 15 hits and Moore recorded five hits as a ninth-grader.

“We need to become more consistent on the mound,” Swenson said. “We also need to score more runs is we want to be successful.”

Others that Swenson will be looking to help make that happen are Sam Koehnk, Jackson Olmsted and Cooper Stuck.

“Our goals are to improve every game and be competitive in every game,” Swenson said.

Prior to last year, the Hawks had won 10 games in back-to-back seasons, and also went 19-6 in 2021.

Assisting Swenson this summer will be Kyle Galetich. The Hawks open play May 18 vs. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura from Mike Penning 21 Complex.

2026 SOUTH HAMILTON BASEBALL

Roster

Seniors — Brody Harris, Gaige Willis, Titus Herrick, Sam Koehnk, Parker Stuck.

Juniors — Jackson Olmstead, Liam Early, Spencer Davis.

Sophomores — Hagen Klein, Wyatt Gelder, Cooper Stuck, Garrett Johnson, Holden Moore.

Freshmen — Kash Northrop, Mason Ostream, Oliver Hetland.

Schedule

May 21 — at Nevada; 22 — at Gladbrook-Reinbeck; 27 — at Grand View Christian; 29 — at Roland-Story.

June 1 — West Marshall; 3 — PCM; 5 — at Perry; 8 — Greene County; 9 — Saydel; 11 — Nevada; 15 — at Saydel; 17 — Grand View Christian; 18 — Southeast Valley; 19 — Roland-Story; 22 — at West Marshall; 24 — at PCM; 25 — at Colfax-Mingo; 26 — Perry; 29 — at Greene County; 30 — Iowa Falls-Alden.