By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
FISHERS – Seven wins in nine games by mid-April doesn’t define a baseball season, but it speaks volumes for the Hamilton Southeastern Royals.
A program with 12 victories overall and only two in Hoosier Crossroads Conference play last season, the 2026 Royals aren’t replicating the past.
They’re ready to compete.
“Nobody expects anything from us, and that’s what we want our mindset to be this time. Don’t worry about us,” HSE coach Kory Seitz said. “Hopefully, we show up and sneak up on some people this year. We have a lot of faith in what this group can do right here, but now, we got to show it.”
So far, the Royals (7-2, 2-0 HCC) have shown they’re not the same team from last year.
In 2025, HSE didn’t reach seven wins until the first week of May, and with a two-game series sweep of Brownsburg, the Royals have already matched their 2-12 HCC finish from last spring.
“I got a lot of kids back with a ton of experience. I knew that we were probably going to struggle a little bit last year, but for years, I’ve been excited about what this junior-senior class right now combined could potentially do,” Seitz said. “Just because there’s a lot of depth in it.”
At the plate, the Royals carry a .347 team batting average and have amassed 78 runs scored, 64 RBI and 22 doubles, while the pitching staff owns a 2.70 ERA.
Lessons have turned into results for HSE in a year’s time, and they’re still developing with 13 juniors on the varsity roster along with nine seniors.
“We did a lot of work this offseason on being leaders and taking on bigger roles,” said HSE junior outfielder Clark Bucher, a Michigan recruit. “We understand that we have to keep fighting even when we get down.”
Experience, confidence and chemistry have put the Royals on a positive trajectory, and it could lead to the program contending for its first HCC title since winning the IHSAA Class 4A state championship in 2019.
A sectional crown this season would mark HSE’s 17th overall and first since 2023, but the Royals aren’t looking too far ahead.
“It’s a great start to the season. It’s exactly what we’ve been working for. We’ve put in a good offseason, and it’s starting to show,” HSE junior pitcher Spencer Mohr said.
Mohr (3-0, 1.62 ERA) has 21 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched this season. Senior right-hander Dylan Cope (2-0, 2.42 ERA) has 10 punchouts in 8.2 IP, while junior AJ Eikenberry (1-0, 3.65 ERA) has eight in 15.1 IP.
Senior Chase Bradle, an Augustana College commit, is a dual threat as a pitcher and a fielder, with seven strikeouts in 10.0 IP and a .440 batting average with nine RBI and two doubles in 25 at-bats as a first baseman.
Senior second baseman Jackson Bixler (.412, 10 RBI, 2 doubles, HR, 7 stolen bases) hits leadoff ahead of Bucher (.323, 7 RBI, 3 doubles, HR, 5 stolen bases), who hit .230 as a sophomore.
“I think Clark is going to show why he’s a big-time recruit. There’s a reason he’s going to Michigan, and he’s starting to figure out who he is. Last year, we knew he was going to struggle some and all that, but that year has paid off going into this year for us,” Seitz said. “Just being way more confident.”
With seven lineup regulars hitting .300 or better, the payoff is widespread.
Senior Parker O’Steen (.333, 5 doubles), a Kellogg CC commit, and Manchester commit Cy Cole (.370, 6 RBI, 2 doubles), a senior outfielder, continue to progress.
Varsity newcomer Alex Shepherd (.385, 6 RBI, 3 doubles), a junior catcher, and senior shortstop Trey McManama (.300, 2 doubles) add to the Royals’ lineup strength, in addition to senior outfielder Kian Kelly (.333).
“Everything I’ve asked them to do, I feel like we’ve almost gotten done at this point, which is encouraging for them because they’ve bought into everything we spent a lot of time on in the offseason,” Seitz said. “I like where our potential could be in a month from now.”
