MC Baseball to Open 2026 Season at Home
Following last season’s tournament appearance, the Choctaws open the year with a core of returning players and new contributors.
MC Baseball opens another season with anticipation building across the program. As the Choctaws conclude their final preparations, Head Coach Jeremy Haworth is ready to see how this year’s team will respond to another tough schedule. The Choctaws open the 2026 season on Friday against the University of Indianapolis, a program that has advanced to the Midwest Super Regional for three straight years.
MC baseball is coming off a 35-win season, the third-best in program history. Last year’s campaign brought the team to the NCAA Division II tournament, where the Choctaws fell short against the University of Tampa. Haworth believes last year’s success laid a foundation for sustained excellence. “A lot of [the success in 2025] was contributed to the guys last season,” Haworth said. “The culture they built, it’s not really a coach-led culture. It’s a player-led culture.”
Although the Choctaws saw most of their production from last season leave, Haworth believes that the team’s offseason work has prepared this year’s roster for the challenges ahead. “The difference in teams that are very successful is what they do off the field,” Haworth said. “If they can grow together off the field, if they can do the little things right, and if they’re disciplined. And our guys have shown that.”
To have repeated success this season, the Choctaws need to lean on their experienced pitching staff. Pitchers Caleb Peterson, Coby Gollott, and Dylan Cope were all named to the Gulf South Conference returning player watch list. Haworth is confident in this group. “I believe more than any other year that I’ve been here, that this is the strongest our pitching staff has been,” Haworth said. “From top to bottom, from starters to bullpen… There is a lot of experience coming back, and they know what it is to compete and go against some really tough lineups.”
In addition to these returning veteran arms, nine true freshmen will suit up for the blue and gold, the most since 2021. Coach Haworth is optimistic that the first-year Choctaws will contribute to the team’s success. “I’m always going to play the best nine guys that I believe will help us win,” Haworth said. “And I do believe we’re going to see a lot of those freshmen play this year.”
The Choctaws begin the 2026 season at home against the University of Indianapolis on Friday, Jan. 30.
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