4th-ranked Walters State baseball team inexperienced, but full of talent in 2026
MORRISTOWN, TN – There will be a lot of new faces when No. 4 Walters State takes the field this weekend to open the 2026 season, but the Senators squad still boasts plenty of talent.
Walters State is coming off a 59-8-1 season, a TCCAA/Region 7 Championship, an Appalachian District Championship and a Runner-Up finish at the JUCO World Series.
This season, the Senators return two starters in the field from that 2025 team and a handful of pitchers. However, despite the smaller number of returners, Walters State coach Dave Shelton sees a lot of potential in his 2026 team.
"We've been fortunate this year that the weather has allowed us to be outside quite a bit," Shelton said. "A lot of our guys this year, it's their first taste of true college baseball this weekend. So far, it looks to be a really talented team. We played a tough fall schedule, and we didn't do a great job of doing what it takes to win games. We just need to get a lot of that out of our system and get them to play winning baseball instead."
A good way to get the inexperience out of a team is by playing a tough fall schedule, and the Senators certainly did that. Walters State played the likes of the University of North Carolina, Virginia Tech, UNC Charlotte and Western Carolina.
"University of North Carolina, that's a team that could go to Omaha and compete for a national championship," Shelton said. "Then, we played Virginia Tech and UNC Charlotte. It was a really good schedule as far as competition. It put our guys in a position to get challenged, to where we found out what our weaknesses are that we needed to work on. We spent the second half of our fall trying to eliminate those weaknesses, and hopefully it helps out in the long run."
While the Senators do have inexperience, their lineup is led by two players who played a significant role last season in shortstop Kole Fenton and third baseman Holden Pantier.
Last season, Fenton was named an ABCA/Rawlings NJCAA DI Gold Glove Shortstop. Offensively, Fenton was the Senators' leadoff hitter and batted .376 with five home runs, 57 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.
Along with Fenton on the left side of the infield, Pantier is back after a strong 2025 season at the plate. In 65 games, Pantier hit .399 with 13 home runs and 71 RBIs. Pantier had a .520 OBP and doubled 15 times. Pantier was selected to the JUCO World Series All-Tournament Team in 2025.
"It might be hard-pressed to find a better left side of the infield anywhere in the country than those two," Shelton said. "Kole is the best defender I've ever been on a field with in all my years of being involved in baseball. I think when I watch Holden, now that he's completely healthy, I think he has a chance to put up All-American type numbers and maybe be one of the top players in the country. We're excited about them."
Along with those two, other returners in the field for Walters State include Drew Blalock (1B), Justin Bell (INF), Hayden Blair (C) and Kenny Cox (C). Blalock drove in 17 runs in 30 games last season, while Bell hit .425 with three home runs and 18 RBIs. The two catchers were solid as well, with Cox hitting .420 with 33 RBIs and Blair batting .333 with three home runs and 16 RBIs.
"These guys have been around enough and been through some things to where they've seen it here," Shelton said. "Drew has a chance to hit for some power in the middle of our lineup. Hayden and Kenny have both made tremendous strides all the way around. We're fortunate to have two No. 1 catchers. Justin has also put himself in a position to have a chance to be in the lineup on a regular basis."
As far as newcomers go, the Senators brought in some important transfers in Jackson Berry, Jaxon Walker and Luke Graham.
"Jackson Berry is a transfer from ETSU who has a chance to play a lot of second base," Shelton said. "We just got Jaxon Walker from the University of Tennessee as an outfielder, and he provides a lot of speed and is a plus defender. Then, from Eastern Oklahoma, we got Luke Graham. He's got as much power as anybody in our program. We've got some pieces that have a chance to really lead us in the right direction."
On the mound, returners for Walters State include Brady Scott, Ryan Smith, Brayden Blankenship and Preston Allen. Scott threw 31 innings last season, going 3-0 and had three saves, while Blankenship threw 21.2 innings and went 4-0 with 26 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Smith struck out 13 batters in nine innings last season, and Allen struck out 10 batters in six innings when he last pitched for Walters State in 2023.
"Brady is just so consistent with his ability to throw strikes," Shelton said. "I know what he's going to give us on the mound. He's going to compete and throw three pitches for strikes. We've got some power arms after him. Preston Allen is signed with the University of Georgia and has a fastball that can run up into the mid to upper 90s.
"Ryan Smith is signed with the University of North Carolina and has the chance to be a big bullpen piece for us. Brayden Blankenship threw a lot of big innings for us last year and has the chance to be a number one type arm."
However, those four are just a few pieces to a very deep Walters State pitching staff. Shelton expects a bevy of guys to be factors for the Senators on the mound. That includes Tim Tyler, Major Osbolt, Lane Sharp, David Hamilton, Bridger Hamilton, Justin Bell and Colton Richards.
"Major Osbolt is signed with LSU and should be a mid-90's right-hander," Shelton said. "I really like Lane Sharp's demeanor and presence on the mound. He's got the look of a prototypical closer. Tim Tyler might be our number one. He's signed with the University of North Carolina and is a low-90's left-hander who can pitch and really compete.
"It might be the deepest pitching staff we've had as far as big-time arm talent. Now, can they still have bad days? Yeah, they can still have bad days. Just because you're talented doesn't mean that you can put that talent on display when the lights come on. Hopefully, our guys can be competitors because if they're on, they're tough to hit."
The schedule is tough to start for the Senators, as Walters State hosts Harford during the second week of the season before going down to Florida to take on Chipola and No. 3 Florida SouthWestern.
"It's a heck of a schedule," Shelton said. "You know, you can't win a championship in early February and January, but these games are extremely important now with the way everything is seeded in the postseason. You hope your guys can come out and perform really well and showcase their talent and be ready. But, also knowing that we have a new team, we could take some lumps early on. We'll see what happens."
After the trip to Florida, conference play begins for Walters State. The TCCAA will be strong again, and Shelton expects tough competition throughout.
"I expect it to be extremely challenging," Shelton said. "We get challenged by every team in our conference, and they get fired up to play us, and we have to be ready to match that enthusiasm. We have to be ready to match the other team's desire to beat us. Our league is really talented, and we have a great group of coaches in our league."
As far as goals for the season go, it's the same as always for the Senators, and that's to make it to Grand Junction and win a National Championship.
"Our goal every year is to get to Grand Junction and win a National Championship, but we're also realistic and know how difficult that is," Shelton said. "I've coached enough teams here that didn't make it, that it can happen. We have to go out and earn it. I just hope that this group can live up to the amount of talent that they have. It's great that we can throw 96 in a bullpen, but that doesn't win you a National Championship. You have to be able to go out and compete against our competition. You have to be able to do the little things that it takes to win baseball games. Hopefully, our guys are going to be ready for it."
Walters State opens the season this weekend, playing at USC Salkehatchie. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2 pm ET.