NEW TAMPA — Wharton had to wait a week to open its 2026 baseball season, but wasted little time, scoring five runs in the first inning and cruising to an 11-1 victory over Chamberlain in its debut.

The Wildcats are coming off the most successful season in school history, after going 27-8 and reaching the Class 6A state semifinals in coach Anthony Markle’s first season.

While the Wildcats lost a bevy of talented seniors like Justis Meadows, Antonio Fawcett and Luke Sauer, they are hardly rebuilding.

Catcher Chase Annelo (.343 with nine doubles and six homers last year), infielder Jairius Morris (.312 last year), outfielder Braden Bodenstein (.375) and pitcher Chase Andress (five homers at the plate, with 45 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched) all return, and with the exception of Bodenstein, all are seniors.

Wharton’s biggest strength might be on the hill, where seniors Daniel Duno, Brody Turer, Connor Evans (who struck out seven in three innings to win the opener) and Andress anchor a staff with plenty of experienced arms. The Wildcats also picked up junior transfer Cooper Antalek, a Jacksonville State commitment.

Down the road at Freedom, the Patriots, 10-15 last year, return virtually everyone from last year’s squad, and so far were being led offensively by sophomores Diego Puente-Marquez (.571) and Brady Hall (.417) and juniors David Simpkins (.444), Logan Handville (.400) and Devon Acord (.364) through the first three games of the season.

Last year, Simpkins had a breakout season, leading the team with 25 RBI and three homers, while also going 5-2 on the mound with a 0.92 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 38 innings.

Standouts of the week

Chase Anello and Jairius Morris, Wharton baseball: Both players doubled and drove in three runs in the season-opening win over Chamberlain.

Isabella Bass, Wharton softball: The senior Wildcat may be tuning up for a big season, going 4-for-4 against Wesley Chapel to raise her average to .667 through two games, both wins.

Eliza Connell, Wharton softball: Connell went 2-for-4 with a double while striking out six in a complete game win over Wesley Chapel.

Monserrat Cuevas and Abby Glass, Freedom softball: Both Patriots had three hits and an RBI to help their team to a season-opening win over Spoto.

Lyric Jones, Wharton track: The sophomore kicked off 2026 by winning the 400-meter hurdles at the TRC King Invitational in 1:09.49.

Mason Lablance, King runner: Picking up where he left off during cross country season, the junior won the 3200-meter race at the TRC King Invitational by a whopping 51 seconds.

Elijah Stratford, Wharton track: The senior sprinter won the 100 meters at the TRC King Invitational in just over 11 seconds.

Congrats

Wharton senior catcher Skylah Stephens hit the first home run of her high school career, a three-run blast in a win over Wesley Chapel.

Freedom’s Aubrey Reed hit her first homer of the season in the Patriots’ 10-9 season-opening win over Spoto.

Freedom pitcher David Simpkins tossed the first shutout of his prep career in a 12-0, five-inning mercy rule win over Hillsborough.