Glen Lake baseball is returning to the diamond with high hopes for the 2026 campaign after repeating as Northwest Conference champions, district champions, and capturing a regional championship, while advancing all the way to the MHSAA D4 elite eight in 2025.
Glen Lake key returners include Tanner Crick, Fletcher Middleton, Jacob Peplinski and Colton Newman, to name a few.
“Tanner and Fletcher are in their 3rd year as starters, so we’re going to lean on their leadership. They are both quality players who go about their business the right way and provide great examples for the underclassman,” Glen Lake coach Kris Herman said. “Jacob hasn’t gotten a lot of publicity because he’s been playing behind an All-State catcher in Peter Gelsinger for the past couple of years, but he’s shown what he can do when he’s gotten his opportunity. He threw out a St. Patrick runner in the quarterfinal game last year, blocks well, and has the experience and tools to do a great job. He has had a really good pre-season, and we’re very comfortable with him.”
Glen Lake ended the 2025 season with a 29-7 record while going undefeated in the NWC, 12-0.
The Lakers are hoping to replace the production of three all-state players Benji Allen, Peter Gelsinger and Isaac Hlavka from last year’s team.
Newman, a returning sophomore, is looking to build on an impressive freshman season with a .366 batting average and 20 RBI’s.
“Colton had one of the best freshman seasons that I can remember here, and he’s matured really well, both physically and as a leader. He’s young, but he has to take on the role of basically being a junior this year, and he’s ready for it,” Herman said.
Rounding out the roster for the Lakers include Sully Atkins (sophomore OF/P who had some time with the varsity last year), Hunter Bright (senior 1B), Levi Lamb (sophomore infielder), Zeb Mackey (senior infielder), Spencer McNiitt (freshman infielder/catcher/pitcher), DJ Mikowski (junior OF/P), Brady Turner (sophomore 1B/C), Ben Wassa (sophomore OF/P).
“We’re relying on a mix of solid experience and a fair amount of youth this year, but it’s a good young. The guys are very coachable, very hungry, and have talent. It’s just going to be a matter of how long it takes them to adjust to varsity baseball, but once they do, I like who we could be,” Herman said.
Read more sports previews in Thursday’s newspaper!
