2026 Baseball Preview: Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs
Pictured is Lynchburg-Clay's Quin Wells from a game during the 2025 season. (HCP Photo/Stephen Forsha)
LYNCHBURG-CLAY MUSTANGS
Southern Hills Athletic Conference (SHAC)
Head Coach: James Flowers (3rd year)
2025 Overall Record: 24-4 (11-0 SHAC, Div. II)
Last Conference Championship: 2025 (SHAC Div. I; Div. V State Semifinals)
The 2025 season for the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs was a season that won’t be forgotten as they were conference, district and regional champions, plus they played in the Division V State Semifinals.
It was a season where they finished 24-4 overall with a 4-1 record in the postseason and a 11-0 record in the Division I Southern Hills Athletic Conference, where they allowed just one run in conference games, outscoring their SHAC foes 118-1 and all of their opponents 282-52.
In their tournament run to state, the Mustangs defeated Piketon (6-0), Portsmouth (3-2), Valley (4-3) and St. Clairsville (5-4 extra innings) and lost in the state semifinals to St. Paris Graham (4-1).
LCHS lost nine seasons from the state semifinalist team, including Cole Wells, who is playing for Division I Morehead State, plus many starters whose roles will need to be filled this season.
That said, the Mustaangs — who are coached by James Flowers — have a talented team that can have success once again this season as they have three seniors, six juniors, and five sophomores on the ’26 roster.
“We return eight players from the final four roster,” Flowers said. “Over half of them played several innings in ’25, and even though we graduated nine seniors, we feel good about the experience and depth we return. We have a very talented group of kids who will continue to grow all season long.”
Seniors for the Mustangs are Elam Faust (C), Caden Boone (1B) and Ryan Creditt (2B).
Boone in seven games last season had nine ABs where he totaled five runs, five hits (two doubles) and four RBI.
Creditt as a junior scored three runs, plus he had an RBI and a steal.
Faust in ’25 played in 26 games where he had 50 at-bats, with 23 runs, 13 hits (four triples), 11 RBI and seven steals with a .260 BA and .433 on-base percentage.
The juniors are Aric Slack (OF), Max Baker (INF/P), Tristin Puckett (C ), Aiden Bene (INF/P), Alex Van Fleet (OF) and Trevor Niehaus (OF),
Niehaus in 26 games had 65 ABs with 29 runs, 18 hits (five doubles, one home run), 14 RBI, 15 steals and a .277 BA with a .442 OBP.
Sophomores for the Mustangs include Luke Davis (OF/P), Tanner Roberts (3B/P), Harley Lewis (OF), Quin Wells (SS/P) and Kristian Beachy (P/1B).
Roberts in 25 games totaled 58 ABs with 16 runs, 21 hits (eight doubles), 24 RBI, 10 steals, with a .362 BA and .519 OBP. Roberts pitched in two games last season where he collected four strikeouts.
Wells in ’25 finished with 27 games played that included 73 ABs, 26 runs, 31 hits (five doubles, three triples), 41 RBI and 18 steals, with a .425 BA and a .474 OBP. Wells pitched in five games where in 16.1 innings he was 1-1 with 15 strikeouts with one shutout.
Beachy in ’25 as a freshman played in 13 games where in 16 ABs totaled six runs, seven hits (two doubles), seven RBI and one steal. On the mound, Beachy had four strikeouts in two games.
The Mustangs’ non-conference schedule includes: at Zane Trace, vs. Huntington, at Adena, at Reedsville Eastern (VA Memorial), at Amanda Clearcreek (VA Memorial), at Versailles (Wright State), at Western Brown, at Williamsburg, at Portsmouth, vs. Blanchester, at Unioto and at New Richmond.
Playing in Division I of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, the Mustangs will face Eastern, North Adams, Ripley and West Union twice each, and they will face Division II SHAC opponents Peebles, Fairfield, Fayetteville, Manchester and Whiteoak once.
The Mustangs open their 2026 season on Tuesday, March 31 at home against the Fairfield Lions, as their game against Zane Trace was postponed.