FROM THE PRESS BOX: A LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL AT THE 2027 BASEBALL SEASON (June 20, 2026)

The 2026 baseball season was historic for the Waverly Wolverines, while Athens and Tioga both returned to the postseason, and Sayre struggled through another season.

Waverly won a school-record 22 games, as well as the program's second Section IV title, and notched its first-ever state playoff win before being eliminated in the state quarterfinals.

Athens posted a 17-4 record and shared the NTL Large School title, but once again ran into Montoursville in the District 4 playoffs.

Despite losing two starters to the golf team, and another in a transfer to Sayre, Tioga was 7-7 before losses in the IAC Small School championship game, and the opening round of the Section IV, Class C playoffs.

Sayre finished the season at 3-16, and let a couple wins slip away.

Looking ahead to the 2027 season, Waverly and Athens have all the ingredients for a deep postseason run, and Tioga returns nearly en tact for what should be an improvement from this year's 7-9 season, and Sayre's rebuild will continue.

Let's take a peak into the crystal ball. 2027 is a bit murky with the start of the season still 9 1/2 months away, but ...:

Athens Wildcats: The Wildcats graduate a trio of starters, including four-year starter Nick Grazul and defensive whiz at shortstop in Eli Hobday, but return a strong group of seniors-to-be, led by Brady Flynn, Connor Davidson, and Kam Wheeler, as well as a strong group of younger underclassmen, led by Duncan Thetga, Zeke Noble, and Shea Davidson.

Thetga will anchor a good staff that will also include Flynn, Wheeler, Kade Rowe, Brendan Cooke, Ty Owen, and possibly Connor Davidson.

Offensively, the Wildcats should score runs, and could score them in bunches.

Prediction: Athens will be the preseason favorite to win the NTL, but Wellsboro will likely have a say as well. The problem will once again be getting past Montoursville in the postseason. 2027 regular-season record: 17-3 and a District 4 berth.

Sayre Redskins: The Redskins will graduate four seniors, including their top pitcher in Karter Green, but return several starters.

Shaine Strickland, Riley McGaughey, and Blake Zingeser are good building blocks for Sayre, but they'll need several more players to step up at the plate and on the mound.

Prediction: Sayre is in rebuilding mode. If coach Todd Green can maintain the numbers and keep the kids in the program, there's no reason to think the Redskins won't return to its winning ways at some point. 2027 regular-season record: 3-17.

Tioga Tigers: A very young and inexperienced Tioga team started off with a 2-5 record, but longtime skipper Kevin Evanek, despite an injury to his best pitcher, righted the ship, and the Tigers bounced back to win the division title and finish the regular season at 7-7.

If Josh Rought is healthy in 2027, and Cam Ross continues to progress, Tioga should have a good 1-2 punch on the mound.

Cooper Dember and Rought will lead what should be a much-improved offense.

Prediction: The Tigers will need to fine-tune its defense and cut down on its average of 3.3 errors per game, but I expect Tioga to win its division again, and possibly make a little run in the Class C playoffs. 2027 regular-season record: 10-8 and a Class C playoff berth.

Waverly Wolverines: The Wolverines will lose five seniors to graduation, including four major contributors in Ronin Ault, Porter Daddona, Hogan Shaw, and Daltton Davis.

Despite those losses, Waverly returns a pair of proven pitchers in Axel Murray and Jack Pipher, as well as Griff Walter, who has thrown quality innings in each of the last two seasons.

Offensively, they'll have to replace four starters, but they'll return six players, led by Pipher, Matthias Welles, Justin Koenig, and Sam Cheresnowsky who have a lot of at-bats in the last two seasons.

Prediction: Waverly will need two or three of its role players, or kids from the JV team to step up offensively, and one or two to step up on the mound. With the drop back to Class B in 2027, Waverly could make some waves in the postseason again. 2027 regular-season record: 15-5 and a Class B postseason berth.

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