OHIO CITY, OH - The Saint Ignatius Wildcats are coming off a solid 2025 campaign in which they went 20-9 but ultimately fell short of their goals, losing in the District Final in heartbreaking fashion in extra innings against Canton GlenOak. While the team will be looking to fill the voids left by some of the seniors from the 2025 squad, it is also returning the bulk of its talent from a year ago, with 17 players returning for their junior or senior seasons with the Cats. There is certainly excitement about the team's talent, but there is also uncertainty, with playing time to be won at various positions. 

The Wildcat infield took on different looks throughout last season. The majority of the players who saw the bulk of the playing time a season ago in the infield are set to return for the 2026 campaign. Jacob Merheb and Brayden Colleran will likely see the majority of the time at 1B/DH as they did a season ago. The two will also look to anchor the lineup and build off of their solid seasons at the dish a season ago. As a sophomore, Colleran hit a team-high 24 singles and knocked in 15 RBIs on a .333 average. 

Marcus Tekancic is back for his third season on varsity and is set to be the Cats' everyday shortstop before heading off to Tampa next year for collegiate baseball. AJ Peluso is another name to watch, as the versatile infielder saw an uptick in playing time as the season went on a year ago, and is primed for a strong junior season. 

Max Hirsch, who somewhat recently committed to Mercyhurst, battled an injury in his junior year before ending the season strong. He, too, is versatile, but it would not be surprising to see him get a lot of reps at second. The Cats have multiple names that provide them depth in the middle infield, including the youngest player and the only sophomore on the squad. Yadian Oliveras, who spent last season on JV as a freshman. At the JV level, Oliveras collected 19 RBIs and 26 runs while hitting for an average of .319. 

Behind the dish, the Cats have multiple options this season. Owen Mikin saw plenty of action at catcher a year ago, but with junior Dane Donovan healthy and ready for his varsity debut this year, Mikin could see more time on the mound, where he can contribute greatly to this team. The Cats have good depth in the infield, but the returning faces will likely lead the charge here. 

There is plenty of playing time to be won in the outfield with three senior outfielders graduating a season ago. Senior Jackson Anthony is the main returner in the outfield, and he is likely to see lots of time in centerfield, but has the versatility to play all three outfield spots at a high level as well. 

The Cats have multiple options to fill the other two outfield spots, and it's likely to change whose name is penciled in those spots at times this season. Down the stretch, there could be more stability in those positions, but early on, presumably multiple guys will get looks in the outfield, and the Cats will then elect to ride the hot hand at times. Matthew McKee is one of the options. Committed to Baldwin Wallace, McKee can also catch for the Cats and saw time in multiple positions in his junior year. 

Finn Barmann is another guy to watch, as the junior is getting his first varsity action this year and had strong seasons at both the Freshman and JV levels his freshman and sophomore year before making the squad this season. Ryan Whelan and Trey Powers are two other guys who could have some opportunities in the outfield, as Whelan has experience in the outfield from a season ago, and Powers, who has been on varsity since freshman year, is looking to contribute not only offensively in the outfield but also on the mound. The Cats have depth options beyond this that they could turn to. The outfield has the most unknowns out of any position group on the team, but the Cats have many talented options at their disposal. 

While the pitching staff lost some of their top arms from a season ago, the majority of the staff is returning, and there are some new faces who can make a big impact as well. The Wildcat pitching staff was a huge strength a season ago and is in a prime position in 2026 to not only match that performance but also take a step forward. Guys like Daniel Jenne, Leo Bucco, Luke Creech, Sam LoParo, and Ben Olack all saw good innings a year ago and excelled in their roles when they were inserted into the game. 

The aforementioned Trey Powers and Owen Mikin will also likely see increased time on the mound this season, as both can put up big numbers on the radar gun and could be used to start a game or come out of the bullpen. With those guys set to take on bigger roles and build on their 2025 campaigns, the Cats have solid depth they can lean into, including junior Xavier Iannello, who excelled at the JV level a season ago and made appearances on the Varsity Blue squad. Similar to 2025, this is a deep Wildcat pitching staff that will keep offenses at bay and ultimately keep the team in games throughout the season.

Head Baseball Coach Brad Ganor enters his 22nd season at the helm for the Baseball Cats and has a 432-155-2 record. The varsity staff includes Jeff Deighton '04 (fifth season on staff), Tyler Finkler '13 (first season on varsity staff, eighth seasons prior as freshman Head Baseball Coach), Michael Palange '06 (fifth season on the staff), Josh Sorge '91 (fifth season on staff), and John Whelan (11th season on staff). 

Mark Terlep has been named the Director of Player Development. He has been a part of Coach Ganor's staff since the 2011 season. He enters his 16th season with the Wildcats. 

While this is a very talented group in 2026, the Cats will be tested all throughout the season by other very talented squads in and out of Ohio. The schedule includes an early-season trip to Tampa, Florida, where the Cats will play four games, including nationally ranked IMG Academy and Tampa Jesuit. This grueling schedule could lead to some growing pains, especially early in the season. It will ultimately prepare this group for what they hope will be a deep postseason run and the Diamond Cats' first State Championship since 2019. The season opens down in Columbus on March 28 against Upper Arlington, and the SIBN will have live coverage of Opening Day.