2026 Baseball Preview: Whiteoak Wildcats

WHITEOAK WILDCATS
Southern Hills Athletic Conference (SHAC)
Head Coach: Chris Veidt (35th year)
2025 Overall Record: 13-10 (6-6 SHAC Div. II)
Last Conference Championship: 2023 (SHAC Div. II)

The 2026 Whiteoak Wildcats baseball team starts the season with a roster of 13 players as they look to gain a winning record.

Whiteoak has no seniors on the ’26 roster, but they have six juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen. WHS graduated four seniors from last season. 

“We are junior and freshman dominant. Depending on who’s pitching, we will most likely be a 5/4 split either direction,” Whiteoak head coach Chris Veidt said. ‘Our juniors are an experienced group. Most have been playing regularly since their freshman year. 

“They have had the privilege to play in many big games the past three years, and that type of experience is a definite asset. We pride ourselves in solid team defense, aggressive baserunning and a deep pitching staff.”

The juniors are Christian Hite (C/OF), Abraham Flader (INF), Izayah Clift (OF/P), Jacob Kiley (INF/P), Caden Butler (OF/P) and Jonah Michael (INF/P). 

Hite last season totaled 22 games, 55 at-bats, 15 runs, 15 hits (five doubles), 10 RBI, 19 steals, a .494 on-base percentage and a .273 batting average. 

Flader in ‘25 played in 23 games where he had 67 at-bats with 17 runs, 16 hits (two doubles), 15 RBI, 20 steals, a .386 OBP and a .239 BA. 

Clift played in 23 games a season ago where he had 62 at-bats and scored 20 runs, had 16 hits (three doubles), 10 RBI, 19 steals, a .465 OBP and .258 BA. As a pitcher last season, Clift in seven appearances pitched 49.2 innings, with 67 strikeouts and a 2.537 ERA and a 1.208 WHIP. 

Kiley during the ’25 season played in 23 games where he had 76 ABs to collect 11 runs, 24 hits (two doubles), 15 RBI, five steals, a .404 OBP and a .316 BA. Kiley pitched 8.2 innings in seven games last season as he had six strikeouts. 

Michael ended the ’25 season with 67 at-bats, 24 runs, 19 hits (six doubles), 16 RBI, 18 steals, a .473 OBP and a .284 BA. On the mound in five games, Michael pitched 10.2 innings with nine strikeouts. 

Butler in ’25 played in 22 games with 57 at-bats, 3 runs, 10 hits, eight RBI and 10 steals.

The sophomore class is Shane Gray (OF), Hayden Stratton (INF/C) and Kellan Limon (OF/P).

Whiteoak’s freshmen are Lucas Pollard (INF), Karson Arey (OF/P/1B), Gabriel Michael (UTL) and Jude Michael (UTL).

Whiteoak’s non-conference games for the ‘26 season include vs. South Webster (DH), vs. Paint Valley, vs. Williamsburg, vs. Green (VA Memorial), at Ironton St. Joseph, vs. Symmes Valley (VA Memorial), vs. Portsmouth Clay, vs. East Clinton, vs. Zane Trace, vs. Lucasville Valley, vs. New Richmond and at Reedsville Eastern. 

WHS plays in Division II of the SHAC where they play Fairfield, Fayetteville, Manchester and Peebles twice, while their Div. I opponents for one game each are Eastern, Lynchburg-Clay, North Adams, Ripley and West Union. 

Whiteoak opens the ’26 season at home on their new turf field on Chris Veidt Field on Saturday, March 28 in a doubleheader against South Webster at noon.