Fresh off a 21 – 7 campaign that produced District and Regional Championships and a trip to the second round of the state tournament, the Harrisburg Hornets enter 2026 with high expectations. Head Coach Maddux Adams and Assistant Coach Garrett Goodman return to Harrisburg High School knowing this year’ s squad will no longer be the hunter— but the hunted. All-State standout Peyton Self headlines the returning core. The pitcher / third baseman hit. 337 with 25 RBIs and two home runs last season, delivering in clutch moments time and again. Self’ s leadership and big-game experience set the tone for the Hornets. Jax Mross(. 384 average, 17 RBIs, 15 stolen bases) brings reliability and energy to both shortstop and the mound. His fearlessness and ability to impact the game in multiple ways make him a key piece in the lineup. Graham Horner patrols left field and provides steady leadership, while Braedyn Duffel anchors second base and serves as the team’ s vocal spark, reaching base at a. 442 clip with 15 walks last year. Noah Lacy returns to first base after posting a. 269 average and. 345 OBP, delivering several big hits in key moments. In center field, James Nance’ s speed and arm strength give Harrisburg a defensive weapon with offensive upside. Self was electric in 2025, throwing 67 innings with just 12 earned runs and 115 strikeouts. His mix of velocity, command, and swing-and-miss ability makes him one of the region’ s premier arms. Mross added 17 innings with only two earned runs( 0.824 ERA), showing strong control. Remi Rapert brings velocity and competitiveness, while Lacy offers a left-handed look with velocity and quality off-speed pitches. Freshman catcher Corey Mross is expected to take command behind the plate with a solid bat and defensive consistency. Rapert will also see time at shortstop, showcasing range and arm strength. Jayvin Thompson adds athleticism to the outfield, and Grayson Harkey’ s elite speed makes him a major threat as a pinch-runner. Harrisburg’ s path back to a deep postseason run hinges on two factors: offensive production and pitching depth. Replacing the hits and RBIs lost to graduation will require lineup adjustments and player growth. On the mound, developing reliable options behind Self will be critical. With a target now squarely on their backs, the Hornets will face every opponent’ s best effort. If they embrace that challenge and continue to compete with the same hunger that fueled last year’ s championship run, Harrisburg has the talent and leadership to contend again in 2026.
The Harrisburg Lady Hornets finished last season at 10-8 falling one game short of the regional tournament. This year, under new head coach Olivia Deckleman, the Lady Hornets are looking to get to that next phase of the season and earn a regional berth. Coach Deckleman will have a solid group of returners to lean on in her first season. Sofie Mooney is a strong leader at shortstop, while Addy Biggs will handle the catching duties again. Coach Deckleman says Biggs is“ a brilliant catcher who is good at what she does.” Camilla Spiegel will show her speed and quickness in centerfield, while Cheyenne Meilke is strong at first base and at the plate. Brilee Thomas flashes a solid glove at second, and Madi Brazile is a solid player with a strong arm in the outfield. Brazile will provide some pitching depth for Harrisburg, as they will rely on a new face in the pitcher’ s circle. Sonni Kate Crews has a deep pitching arsenal, and Coach Deckleman says,“ you will know her when you see her, and her pitches speak for themselves.” Coach Deckleman also listed her team’ s keys to success as quick reaction times and solid communication effort to produce shutouts. Look for the Harrisburg Lady Hornets to compete in the 2A-3 conference for a chance to earn a trip to the regional tournament.
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