White County Middle School Baseball 2026 Season Preview

The White County Middle School baseball program enters a new season with the steady guidance of head coach Jonathan Wilkerson, who returns for his second year at the helm. After five total years coaching baseball, one at the high school and now four with the middle school, Wilkerson says this year’s group brings a different kind of energy. It’s a mix of eager 8th graders stepping into bigger roles and a coaching staff working together to build on last year’s foundation.

The staff around Wilkerson is equally seasoned. Assistant coach Dustin Hopkins returns for his second season, taking charge of first base and leading the outfield group. Alex Sliger, also in year two, focuses on the catchers while lending a hand with the outfield. Jonathan Savage enters his fifth season helping manage the team’s stats and administrative needs. Longtime White County coach Shaun Floyd brings more than two decades of experience to the Junior Varsity squad and will serve as an advisor across the program. Rounding out the crew is Don Pearcy, back for year two and assisting heavily with JV development.

During the offseason, the focus was simple: get faster, get stronger, and get the arms ready. The coaching staff put heavy emphasis on conditioning and long-term durability, knowing that a middle school season can be demanding on young players. Wilkerson said he hopes that attention to detail will play a major role in how the team performs once they start stacking games together.

Pitching and defense are expected to be the backbone of this year’s Warrior baseball team. Eighth graders Jack Dicus and Noah Teeple will carry the bulk of district-game innings, but the coaching staff plans to rely on a full mix of 7th and 8th grade arms to get them through the schedule.

The theme for the season— “Do Simple Better”—will guide the approach. In practices and games, the team will be focused on cleaning up the routine plays and learning to execute them with consistency.

“If the boys stay grounded in the basics instead of chasing big, flashy moments, the results will take care of themselves,” Wilkerson said.

Leadership roles are still developing, but Wilkerson said several players are already stepping forward. Dicus returns after starting every game last year and is expected to contribute heavily both on the mound and at the plate. Ryder Staggs, another 8th grader who saw significant playing time as a 7th grader, will transition in the starting catcher role and remain an important bat in the lineup. Samuel Price, who spent last season as a courtesy runner, has emerged as a strong influence during the offseason program, and coaches expect his confidence to keep growing as the year begins.

The biggest hurdle the Warriors will face is experience—more accurately, the lack of it. While the roster is full of upperclassmen, many haven’t logged substantial varsity innings. How quickly this group adjusts to the speed, pressure, and competition level of varsity play will likely determine the arc of their season.

“Expectations for this team are to compete each and every time we step onto the field. If we do that night in and night out, we can compete with and beat anyone that is on our schedule,” Wilkerson said. “That's what I will consider a successful season. A season where you know when we step on the field, we are going to compete and do everything in our power to win games.”

For continued coverage throughout the year—including game recaps, player spotlights, stats, photos, and all the moments that shape the season—be sure to subscribe to the Main Street Journal – Sparta and follow along as this team grows with every inning.