The WJ baseball team came within one game of a state championship last season before falling in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in the state semifinal. Now the Warriors enter the 2026 season determined to finish the job.
Head Coach Bowers said replacing last year’s senior class will be one of the team’s biggest challenges early in the season.
“We lost some key seniors, so one of our biggest challenges will be developing new leaders and getting younger players ready for bigger roles. At the same time, this team has worked incredibly hard in the offseason, and I’m really optimistic about the talent and competitiveness we have returning. If we stay focused on pitching, defense, and playing as a team, we believe this group can have a very strong season,” Coach Bowers shared.
The Warriors graduated 15 seniors from last year’s roster, meaning younger players will need to step into larger roles. Despite that turnover, the team still features three Division I commits and several other college-bound players expected to make an impact this spring.
Much of the team’s confidence centers on the pitching staff. Players describe the rotation as a “two-headed monster” led by Tennessee commit Shawn Sullivan and Xavier commit Caleb Mecurio. Sullivan is ranked among the top pitchers in the state and posted a sub-1 ERA last season.
Mecurio missed part of last year after suffering a sprained UCL, but has spent the offseason preparing for a return to the mound. Over the summer, he competed on the travel circuit with the Cincinnati Reds scout team. Mecurio said he feels ready to contribute again this season.
“I feel stronger and more capable than ever, and I have been training harder and doing shoulder strengthening drills to stay healthy. I am ready to come back strong and help the team however I can on the mound and in the dugout,” Caleb Mercurio said.
The Warriors finished last season with a 17–8–1 record and played their best baseball during their postseason run to the state semifinals. While pitching remains a strength, players say improving the offense will be a major focus this year. Many team members have spent the offseason training at Biosport and working with world-renowned hitting coach Juan Sanchez.
Senior Rylan Batley said the offense is focusing on being more aggressive early in counts. “The team’s approach is to be aggressive and swing early, to not get two strikes on them. This will ensure that we will get the ball in play and not strike out, increases our chances of getting our bats going.”
Team chemistry was another major factor in last year’s playoff run. Players say maintaining that culture will again be critical this season. Last year, Andrew Willkomm served as what teammates describe as the team’s “glue guy,” a player who supports teammates and keeps the energy high even when not on the field.
Several seniors hope to take on that leadership role this year, including AJ Bailey and Noah Silversten. Bailey said he hopes to bring that same energy to the team this season.
“I feel like I bring the energy to the team, I am tight with the guys on the team like no one else, and I feel that I can be the best glue guy this team has ever seen. This year will be special!”
