White County High School Warriors Baseball 2026 Preview

As the 2026 season opens, White County High School Warriors baseball is stepping onto the field with a refreshed sense of direction under Head Coach Darrin Norris, whose coaching journey has been deeply rooted in the Sparta community for years.

Norris’s path through White County baseball has been steady and committed. He spent a number of seasons coaching in the Little League youth program at every age group before joining Coach Shaun Floyd as an assistant at the high school level in 2019. From there, he invested four years (2020–2024) in developing younger talent at the middle school before returning to WCHS as an assistant in 2024–2025. Now leading the Warriors, he brings with him a long-term understanding of the program and the players who move through it.

Norris is supported by two assistants who bring unique strengths and a shared commitment to elevating the Warrior baseball program.

David Smith, a former Warrior who played all four years at WCHS and graduated in 2019, returns with deep passion for the sport and for the school that shaped him. Smith previously coached under Coach Thompson and worked alongside Norris last season. His role centers on pitching and catching development, but his influence extends well beyond the mound. Smith also leads the team’s strength and conditioning program, shaping the Warriors’ offseason growth and preparing them physically for the demands of spring.

Robert Berger joins the staff as a new addition, bringing both experience and dependability to the program. A retired Life Flight paramedic with over 30 years of emergency service, Berger also played college baseball and adds valuable insight and a unique perspective to the team. He will guide the outfield, handle in-game statistics, and assist with field preparation - a responsibility that Norris says is a tremendous help to the overall operation. Berger’s commitment to helping young athletes succeed aligns perfectly with the culture Norris wants the program to build.

Much of the Warriors’ offseason was spent in the weight room, where Norris and his staff saw noticeable progress during fall sessions. After returning from Christmas break, the focus shifted heavily to pitcher conditioning, with bullpen sessions and arm-care routines guiding the early weeks of preparation for the long season ahead.

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