After a successful run to the state tournament last season, the Greenwood Bulldogs’ baseball team enters the 2026 campaign with a clear identity. They are going to pitch, they’re going to defend, and they’re going to run. Head Coach Brandon Brewer believes this combination will make his squad a "dangerous team come May" as the bats catch up to the legs, the leather, and the frontline arms. The Bulldogs have already shown flashes of that potential, earning a 5-2 pre-season win over Rogers Heritage in a nine-inning collegiate-style benefit scrimmage last week. Greenwood followed up that outing with strong performances against Shiloh Christian and Springdale, both victories, as the regular season began this week. See the details of those games at the end of this article.
Pitching and Defense: The "Bread and Butter"
Coach Brewer is candid about his team’s philosophy. "I think our bread and butter again this year... is we’re going to be able to pitch, and I think we’re going to be able to play defense," Brewer said. The rotation is headlined by junior left-hander Aaron Taylor, an All-State selection last year whose first seven innings so far this season have been scoreless.
Joining him in the starting mix is sophomore Lawson Leith, another lefty, described by Brewer as having "electric stuff," and sophomore Caden Mendenhall, a power right-hander who serves as the everyday shortstop when not on the mound. The bullpen appears equally deep, featuring Cooper Webb: a tall right-hander with "downhill action" serving as the primary closer; Brayden Brewer: a versatile arm with a deceptive breaking ball; and Jake Gigerich: the team's lone senior, currently rehabbing a wrist injury but is expected to provide a veteran "change of pace" upon his return to action.
Speed and "Gap-to-Gap" Offense
While the Bulldogs boast power potential in the heart of the order – specifically from Ty Holt, Jayden Campbell, and Cooper Webb – the coaching staff is emphasizing a high-pressure, athletic approach. "We’re very athletic," Brewer noted, highlighting Brayden Renick, J.C. McMillen, Ty Karnes, and Ryan Ross as players capable of stealing 20 bases this season. Offensively, the goal is to "live in the gaps," using the team's speed to turn doubles into scoring opportunities before warmer spring air starts carrying balls over the fence. Through Greenwood’s first two official games, the Bulldogs had swatted eight doubles.
2026 Bulldogs Roster by Class
The Bulldogs have 20 players on their 2026 roster, including relief pitcher Jake Gigerich, the only senior on a young varsity squad. The juniors include Wyatt Frye (OF), Brayden Brewer (UTL/P), Brayden Renick (INF), Cruz Coatney (INF/C), Aaron Taylor (INF/P), Cooper Webb (OF/P), and starting catcher Ty Holt. The sophomore class includes J.C. McMillen (OF), Jayden Campbell (INF), Carter Koch (INF/P), William Houston (C), Caden Mendenhall (INF/P), Lawson Leath (INF/P), Beau Bartlett (INF/OF), and Luke Wilson (OF). Key freshmen include Ty Karnes (UTL/P), Weston Selkirk (C), Trepp Nation (C), and Ryan Ross (INF/P).
Looking Ahead
The Bulldogs face a grueling 5A West conference schedule, which has shifted to a "Tuesday-Friday" round-robin format. With high-caliber arms waiting at Russellville and Van Buren, Brewer knows a fast start is vital. In 2025 the four teams who qualified for the postseason were #1 Russellville, #2 Greenwood, #3 Alma, and #4 Van Buren. Both Greenwood and Van Buren reached the second round of the playoffs. The Bulldogs will play at Fayetteville on Saturday this week before opening league play at Van Buren next Tuesday. They will host non-conference Greenbrier next Thursday then travel to Harrison on Friday, returning to conference play.
The GHS coaching staff remains a family affair, with chief assistant Easton Barrett (first base/outfield coach) and new addition, assistant coach Braden Ross – a former UAFS pitcher and son of Bulldogs basketball coach B.J. Ross – leading the way. When he’s available, the staff will be joined by volunteer coach and former GHS and Razorbacks player Peyton Holt, who is still pursuing his athletic career in independent baseball. But Greenwood's journey back to the state tournament is off to a good start with a pair of wins this week, with the ultimate goal being a trip to Hot Springs for the state championship on May 21st.
Greenwood at Shiloh Christian
After a 5-2 win over Rogers Heritage in a pre-season benefit game the week before, the Bulldogs officially opened their 2026 campaign on the road at Shiloh Christian Academy in Springdale last Tuesday. Behind a strong outing by lefty starter Aaron Taylor, the Bulldogs scored single runs in the first and fourth innings for a 2-0 shutout victory, despite getting only three hits in the game. Righthanded reliever Cooper Webb closed out the contest with two scoreless frames. Taylor and Webb limited the opposition to six hits while issuing four walks with seven combined strikeouts, six of those by Taylor.
Jayden Campbell, Brayden Brewer, and Taylor accounted for Greenwood’s three hits, two of those doubles by Campbell and Brewer, with the latter picking up a run batted in. The Bulldogs were given five walks with Cruz Coatney, J.C. McMillen, and Wyatt Frye all picking up a stolen base. Coatney and Campbell scored Greenwood’s two runs. The Bulldogs also played flawless defense with no errors.
Springdale at Greenwood
Offensively, game #2 this week couldn’t have been more different as the Bulldogs stroked 16 hits in a 15-1 five-inning victory over Springdale High School. Lefthanded starting pitcher Lawson Leath went the distance for Greenwood, allowing just three hits, one walk, and one earned run with seven strikeouts. The visitors used five hurlers, but all but one were ineffective.
The Bulldogs plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning, four in the second, and seven runs in the third before a scoreless fourth inning. The game ended after 4½ frames due to the sportsmanship rule. Among Greenwood’s 16 hits, six of them were doubles by Ty Holt, Brayden Renick, Wyatt Frye, Brayden Brewer, Jayden Campbell, and Aaron Taylor. Brewer had three hits to lead the attack, earning four RBIs in the process. Renick, Holt, Campbell, and Taylor all had two hits each. Holt and Taylor had two RBIs while Campbell had one.
Others who contributed with solo hits included Luke Wilson, Cruz Coatney, Cooper Webb, Caden Mendenhall, along with Wyatt Frye’s double. Coatney had two runs batted in as did Webb, who tied Brayden Brewer and J.C. McMillen by scoring three runs each. Brayden Renick and Jayden Campbell scored two runs each with Luke Wilson, Cruz Coatney, Cooper Webb, Caden Mendenhall, and Wyatt Frye scoring solo runs.