Brandon Valley enters the 2026 season with a championship to defend after winning its first title since 2018 last year.

But to repeat has been a tall task in the larger high school baseball class, as no team has gone back-to-back in a decade (Brookings).

There will be no shortage of contenders in a wide-open field, with all roads leading to Augustana in May.

Storylines to watch

Can Brandon Valley run it back?: The Lynx won its first state championship since 2018 last season, but graduated a decorated group of seniors. Class A baseball hasn’t seen a repeat champion since 2015 and ‘16 (Brookings), and could have a tall task ahead to pull it off this year.

Can Yankton make some postseason noise?: The Bucks return three all-staters from last season’s squad, including the player of the year winner Samuel Gokie. With loads of talent coming back from a heartbreaking extra-inning loss in the quarterfinals last season, expect the Bucks to be a contender in May.

Who else will emerge?: Plenty of the top teams from last season experienced major turnover in 2026. Teams like Harrisburg, Sioux Falls Lincoln and Brandon Valley all lost a talented group of seniors that should open the state tournament field to a wider range of teams this season.

Players to watch

Note: These are returning all-staters from the 2025 season. Stats were collected through available GameChanger team profiles.

Beck Ryken, Yankton: Ryken, an infielder/pitcher, was a first team all-state selection last year. Ryken guided the Bucks to a 23-6 record and an appearance in the Class A state tournament a year ago before falling to Sioux Falls Jefferson, 3-2, in the quarterfinals.

Gavin Weir, Harrisburg: Weir, a utility/pitcher, was an all-state first team selection last season. Weir helped the Tigers to a 20-11 record and an appearance in the Class A state tournament before falling to Sioux Falls Jefferson in the semifinals, 1-0. Weir led the Tigers with a .463 batting average with four doubles, a homer and 19 RBIs. Weir also pitched 21.1 innings with a 1.64 ERA and 27 strikeouts.

Lawson Hensley, Sioux Falls Roosevelt: Hensley, an infielder, was an all-state first team selection last year. Hensley batted .418 with seven doubles, four triples and 13 RBIs in 23 games, striking out just six times all of last year.

Samuel Gokie, Yankton: Gokie, an infielder/pitcher, was a first team all-state selection and Class A player of the year last year. Gokie led the Bucks to a 23-6 record before falling in the quarterfinals of the Class A state tournament. Gokie tossed five innings in the quarterfinals against Sioux Falls Jefferson last year, allowing just two runs on six hits and a walk, striking out three.

Colin Lunders, Sioux Falls Lincoln: Lunders, an outfielder, was an all-state second team nominee last season. Lunders guided the Patriots to an 18-16 record and a semifinal appearance in the Class A state tournament. He batted  2-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBIs in two state tournament games last season.

Everett Salonen, Sioux Falls Jefferson: Salonen, a pitcher, was an all-state second team selection last year. Salonen powered the state finalist Cavaliers to a 21-16 record last season. He pitched 42 innings with a 0.83 ERA and 63 strikeouts, allowing just 20 hits last year.

Gavin Johnson, Yankton: Johnson, a catcher, was a second team all-state selection last season. Johnson commanded behind the plate in the Bucks’ 23-6 record, making it to the Class A state tournament.

Jase Bauer, Brookings: Bauer, a catcher/third baseman/pitcher, was a second team all-state selection last season.

Treydon Hofer, Harrisburg: Hofer, a catcher/third baseman, was an all-state second team selection last year. Hofer batted .394 with six doubles, two homes and a team-high 26 RBIs last season.

Tyler Christensen, Mitchell: Christensen, a pitcher, was an all-state second team selection last season. Christensen tossed 35.1 innings with a 2.18 ERA along with 34 strikeouts a year ago.