Junior High Baseball: Pirates race to 4-0 start behind deep pitching and balanced lineup

By Wayne Haskovec 

Junior high baseball is in full swing for the 2026 season. The Pirate roster features 25  players ready to rock ‘n’ roll this summer. After a couple of weeks of maneuvering fields around  varsity home games and practices, the Pirates got out to a fast 4-0 start.  

This is my 24th season as the junior high baseball coach here in Hudson and my 31st  year coaching baseball overall. Holden Caloud has stepped in as assistant coach once again  this summer, making 2026 his third season as a Pirate junior high coach. I am always excited to  coach alongside former students of mine. It makes the summer enjoyable and provides a bit of  nostalgia.  

One aspect of my 24 years as coach that has never changed is the philosophy of  getting everyone into every game. That philosophy has been the groundwork for a lot of  success and enjoyment of the sport for our junior high athletes.  

Junior high sports are often the first opportunity these kids have to learn how to work  with teammates who will be alongside them when the games and championships matter at the  high school level. Learning discipline and understanding their role in helping the team are  among the most valuable lessons they will take away from athletics.  

We do not get to handpick our players. We coach kids with all levels of experience. One  of the best parts of coaching junior high baseball is providing opportunities for athletes to play  multiple positions. By the end of their time with us, they understand that being willing to play  different positions not only helps the team, but also helps develop their overall skill set as they  prepare for high school baseball.  

In Week 1 of the 2026 season, the Pirates captured sweeps over Sumner Fredericksburg and Jesup. The team was led by several outstanding pitching performances.  We knew coming into the season that pitching depth would be critical, as our schedule has us  playing only two fewer games than the varsity squad during the month of June.  

Against the Sumner-Fredericksburg Cougars, Jace Rhoades started on the mound  while Jace Kuker came in to close out the victory. The Pirates found themselves trailing 4-0  early but responded by outscoring the Cougars 13-1 the rest of the way in a 13-5 victory at  home.  

The Pirate eighth-grade squad bunted with perfection. Five individual bunts were  placed in ideal locations, helping push six runners across the plate. Two of those bunts were  squeeze plays that resulted in key runs. Beckett Hansen, Isaac Peterson and Davis Germaine  helped keep the offense rolling with excellent execution.  

Kuker also smashed a third-inning triple that traveled an estimated 320 feet, helping  extend the Pirate lead. Kuker and Brady Strouth later put the finishing touches on the mound,  helping solidify the strong start by Rhoades. Josh Culham, Myles Jensen and Dylan Rhymer  contributed outstanding defensive performances.  

In Game 2, the Pirates followed the arms of Cole Curley, Knox Griffin and Edward  Richard. The trio helped secure a 10-5 victory and complete the sweep of the Cougars.  Reed Reams, Rocco Thompson, Gavin Kliegl, Lukah Bergmeier, Sebastian Perez and  Knox Griffin led the offensive attack. Liam Newkirk, Cohen Warnell, Kevin Hayes, Brock  Gunnarson, Kinnick Annis, Bryce King and Liam Ball helped keep the Cougars in check  defensively.  

After collecting two victories at home, the Pirates set sail for their first road trip of the  season.  

Hudson traveled to Jesup for a showdown with the J-Hawks on their new junior high  field. The change of venue proved beneficial for the Pirates, who were powered by two  legitimate over-the-fence home runs from Jace Rhoades and a grand slam from Jace Kuker.  

Both moonshots helped generate the momentum needed to sweep the J-Hawks.  In Game 1, the Pirates and J-Hawks battled through an exceptionally clean and  fundamentally sound contest. The first three innings took just over 18 minutes to complete. 

Rhoades’ solo home run helped swing momentum back toward Hudson after the teams  were tied 3-3. The blast helped the Pirates create enough separation to prevent a Jesup  comeback.  

Rocco Thompson pitched a fantastic game, allowing just two hits over four innings.  Kuker closed out the victory with three strikeouts as Hudson earned a 6-3 win.  Myles Jensen and Isaac Peterson each made key defensive plays in the outfield, while  Edward Richard may have recorded the defensive play of the game with a spectacular over the-shoulder catch at third base.  

In Game 2, the Pirates relied on Lukah Bergmeier and Knox Griffin, who combined to  allow just four hits over four innings.  

Reed Reams, Sebastian Perez and Gavin Kliegl led the offensive attack, but Kuker’s  grand slam was the difference-maker. Hudson took an 8-6 lead and never looked back,  completing another victory and extending its undefeated start.  

Things only pick up from here.  

The Pirates will be on the diamond almost nonstop over the next few weeks, playing  another 13 games in 16 days. We do not control the schedule and will have to rely on a deep  group of pitchers throughout the season.  

Hudson kicks off another week of baseball with three consecutive road trips to Oelwein,  La Porte City and Gladbrook-Reinbeck before returning home to host Wapsie Valley.  Go Pirates!