Larry Hypes
Contributing Writer
What do you do following a 26-1 season record, including a 17-game winning streak with a game average of no more than three runs allowed, winning the Mountain Empire District baseball title, following with a sweep through the Virginia High School League diamond playoffs, run-ruled your opponent in a 10-0 Class 1 state championship blowout victory – and then have to give up seven starters (six making an All State designation) to graduation including Class 1 Player of the Year Zac McGlothlin?
Getting back to work is exactly what the Auburn High School Eagles are already doing.
“We are excited to bring our tradition to a new group of players and build on what the ones before us have accomplished,” said AHS alum and four-time state championship coach Eric Altizer (303-123 record in 20 seasons with state titles in 2017,2019,2021,2025).
“Freshman Blake Shumate and sophomore Aiden Smith could maybe take over first base and senior Brody Hensel, who is going on to Concord University, will play there if we need him to. At second base sophomore Brayden Board looks like he can definitely play there for us, and both sophomores Colin Roark and Canyon Calhoun have the potential to play shortstop, again depending on where some guys end up. Cody Flinchum, a senior, has good defensive ability is who we hope to have at third base. He can hit well, too, and will likely be in the middle of our batting order.”
Last year’s men on the mound, three pitchers who threw the most innings, have all graduated. Now Altizer and Co. are reworking the rotation.
“Brody has some experience – four games pitching and was injured –Matthew Altizer also pitched some and had some injury issues, so if both of those guys are healthy, they will be the keystones for our pitching staff in 2026,” said Alitzer.
“With good defense behind our pitchers we can hang around in a lot of games and if we put ourselves in the playoffs, I have told our guys anything can happen then.”
Auburn’s 2025 outfield has also moved onto the next level, making three more starting spots available for the current Eagles.
“Trevin Mower in left field is a senior with some experience and sophomore Braxton Pettus, who played junior varsity. the last two years, is looking good out there, as well. Alex Young, a sophomore, can man center field. He covers a lot of ground, is likely to be our leadoff hitter, and he has shown steady improvement over last year as well as in pre-season practice. Right field may be either Blake Shumate or Aiden Smith; whoever does not end up at first base, will see time out there.”
Altizer knows that so many new faces will mean adjustment, and commented, “We know maybe four or five positions are close to being set going into the season and we will make moves as necessary. We feel like Brody Hensel and Matthew Altizer can help us at a couple of positions if we need them.”
Certainly, the rising Eagles have had outstanding examples to help them prepare.
Standout Eagles including McGlothlin, Jared Lavergne, Josh Givens, Mitchell Hale, Talan Mower, Graham Alley and Landon Marrs have all completed their high school careers.
“All the graduating players have gone on to college,” said Coach Altizer, “and we are so happy about that. We have had such good kids in program. They have been a joy to coach. Six of those eight were at Auburn for four years in the varsity program. We talk about ‘family’ as part of our program and they became family, for sure. They made the Final Four every year.”
Never one to seek the limelight, Altizer said he is blessed to have an outstanding coaching staff.
“There is none better (staff). I am just like a co-coach hanging around with them. We have more than 60 years of coaching experience and some great guys,” he pointed out during a practice. “Coach Bill Wells – I started my assistant coaching with him at Shawsville/Eastmont and he was head coach at Glenvar. I talked him out of retirement to come and help me (might have paid for a round of summer golf) and he has been a tremendous asset to our program. Nobody knows the game quite like he does. Dale Nelson was a 10-year head coach at Christiansburg and he has great baseball knowledge and leadership. Kyle Altizer is doing a fine job. Art Price is our scorekeeper and GameChanger guru. We are fortunate to have Keith Reed (head coach) and Josh Akers (assistant) at the junior varsity level.”
Coach Altizer well knows the challenges Auburn faces right in the local area.
He observed, “We are in one of the state’s toughest districts – Ft. Chiswell is loaded, Grayson County has a great team coming back, Galax, George Wythe and Giles are all teams that have really improved, have good coaches. Their staffs have experience now and they will continue to get better.”
Auburn will scrimmage twice this week, Wednesday at 5 p.m. with Carroll County and Friday at 1 p.m. with Bedford, Penn. High School.
