19 surprise standout players for Seacoast high school baseball in 2026
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The final games of the regular season are being played for high school baseball, and Seacoast teams are moving toward the home stretch and their respective state tournaments in both New Hampshire and Maine.
There were 38 Seacoast players to watch from 11 Seacoast teams highlighted by their coaches prior to the start of the season.
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From pitchers to position players, and seniors to first-year varsity players, coaches were now asked to highlight players from their team who have been playing above expectations.
Here are 19 players from across 11 Seacoast area high schools who have been playing well for their respective teams this year. The list includes six seniors, nine juniors, and four sophomores.
All coaches at local schools were invited to highlight players for this story.
Derek Brower, Oyster River High School, junior, pitcher
Brower has been dominant on the mound for Oyster River this season, a big piece in the team's rotation.
Through Oyster River's first 16 games, Brower was second on the team with 29 innings pitched, allowing nine earned runs for a 2.10 ERA, striking out 46 and walking one.
"It's been fun to watch Derek pitch this season," Oyster River head coach Cam Calato said. "He has great control."
Brower was one out away from a no-hitter in Oyster River's 4-0 win over Sanborn on April 15.
Calato said Brower has kept the Bobcats in games and has allowed the pitching staff to handle three-game weeks.
Max Dubois, Somersworth High School, junior, left field/pitcher
Dubois came out "blazing" through the first 13 games for Somersworth this season when he had a batting average of .571, including 20 hits, a double, three home runs, 15 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
"Even when he makes an out, it’s usually loud contact, and he constantly makes pitchers work," Somersworth head coach Tracey Bryant said. "His work ethic on and off the field sets the tone for everyone around him. He leads by example, competes every pitch, and is always looking for ways to get better."
Bryant said Dubois' combination of talent, drive and determination is what makes him such a special player to watch.
Colton Durant, Newmarket High School, senior, outfield/first base
Durant wasn't an everyday starter to begin the season, but he made the most of his opportunities when his number was called, Newmarket head coach Stan Jurkoic said.
"He's been hitting very well," Jurkoic said. "He's gotten more playing time lately."
Durant, through Newmarket's first 15 games, had a batting average of .579 with seven RBIs and 15 runs scored through Newmarket's first 15 games
"(Durant) is tremendously fast," Jurkoic said. "He's doing a great job for us ... he does whatever the coaches ask of him. He goes in and contributes."
Ryan Giuffre, Winnacunnet High School, senior, first base
Winnacunnet head coach Aaron Abood said Giuffre has stepped in and started every game this season at first base.
Through Winnacunnet's first 18 games of the season, Giuffre has .315, with a .406 on-base percentage and 11 RBIs.
"(Giuffre) is hitting in the middle of the order and has been very productive in the lineup," Abood said.
Carter Hanson, Spaulding High School, junior, pitcher
Hanson has thrown the second most innings, in a multitude of roles, Spaulding head coach Brad Taylor said.
"He has a rubber arm and has started, worked middle relief, and closed," Taylors said. "His poised demeanor makes him well-suited for the grind of a (Division I) season. He works hard and is a great teammate. He's another pitcher on our staff who pounds the strike zone and trusts the defense."
Hanson, in 23 innings, has allowed just one earned run, striking out 28, with an ERA of 0.30.
Max Herter, Portsmouth High School, junior, third base/pitcher
Through 16 games, Herter had 21 hits for a batting average of .375, an on-base percentage of .444 with five doubles, two triples, 12 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
"Max has made good strides from his sophomore season a year ago when he hit .194," Portsmouth head coach Tim Hopley said. "He's doing a much better job using the field, he's working himself into hitter's counts.
"There's more to work on, but he's making adjustments with every swing in practices and games," Hopley said.
Brayden Leland, Portsmouth Christian Academy, senior, outfielder/pitcher
Leland has been playing "really well" for the Eagles this season, head coach Derek Summers said.
"(Leland) is having a great year for us at the plate," Summers said of Leland.
Leland, through PCA's first 10 games, was batting .367, and an on-base percentage of .513. He has scored 16 runs and stolen 12 bases.
Theo Levine, Portsmouth High School, sophomore, left field/DH
Levine is one of 11 first-year varsity players for Portsmouth this season, and he has produced well.
Through 16 games, Levine has hit .304, with an on-base percentage of .458. He has four doubles, one triple, six RBIs and 14 runs scored.
"Theo has quickly worked himself into the top third of the lineup on an every-game basis," Portsmouth head coach Tim Hopley said.
Hopley added Levine, who spent most the off-season working as a catcher, has adjusted well in the outfield. Levine also leads the team in two-out RBI.
James Mabey, Spaulding High School, sophomore, pitcher
Mabey has stepped up into the No. 2 starter in the Spaulding rotation, and has "pitched like a veteran since his first start."
"James is the ultimate competitor on the mound and a young man who his teammates want to be around," Spaulding head coach Brad Taylor said. "He has a deep arsenal of pitches and places a great deal of trust in his defense to make plays. The defense simply loves playing behind him."
Mabey pitched a complete-game, one-hitter in Spaulding's 7-1 win over Exeter on May 16.
Through 33 innings, Mabey had a 4-1 record, with an 1.49 ERA, allowing 21 hits and 24 strikeouts.
Andrew Martin, Exeter High School, senior, infielder/outfielder
Exeter head coach Bruce Joyce said all of Martin's off-season hard work has paid off for him this season.
"He's a very fundamentally sound player, has good instincts and a high baseball IQ," Joyce said. "He's a great team player and he's done a great job for us hitting in the leadoff spot and has played very well at (third base)."
Martin had two hits and scored two runs in Exeter's 9-0 win over Memorial on May 16. Through Exeter's first 18 games, Martin is batting .278 with 15 hits, including two doubles, and 10 runs scored.
Bjorn Miller, Dover High School, junior, second baseman
Dover head coach Scott Dubben said Miller has played at an all-state level all season long.
"He's a kid who really transformed his body in the off-season since last year," Dubben said.
Miller is playing with a lot of confidence, with Dubben adding that Miller has been a catalyst to the Green Wave offense all year.
Through Dover's first 18 games, Miller is batting .479 with 10 doubles, one home run and nine RBIs.
Ray Plante, Exeter High School, senior, outfielder/pitcher
Plante is a versatile player for the Blue Hawks, the No. 3 pitcher in the rotation, and doing a good job in right field when not on the mound.
Plante struck out eight in Exeter's 9-0 win over Memorial on May 16, and had two hits in Exeter's 4-2 win over Goffstown on May 20.
"Ray has done a great job in all of his roles this spring," Exeter head coach Bruce Joyce said. "He's been solid on the mound as our (No. 3) starter and has pitched against some of the top teams in (Division I). He's also played very well defensively in (right field) and has had a solid year at the plate as well. He's done a great job and has been a very valuable guy for us."
Plante, in six starts, has a 2-3 record over 28.1 innings, striking out 30 with a 2.71 ERA.
Sam Therrien, Marshwood High School, junior, pitcher
Through Marshwood's first 12 games, Therrien posted a 3-1 record over 20.1 innings, striking out 23 and allowing five earned runs for a 1.72 ERA. Opponents are hitting .244 against Therrien.
"We're really proud of Sam making his varsity debut on the mound this season," Marshwood head coach Nick Mirabello said. "He has controlled the tempo of the game, and we love having a lefty who can give us great starts."
Garrett Truax, Spaulding High School, sophomore, pitcher/utility
Truax stepped up when the Red Raiders were shorthanded for a short time during the season.
"(Truax) has excelled since moving near the top of our batting order," Spaulding head coach Brad Taylor said. "His signature game was against Londonderry, when he threw five innings of two-hit, one-run ball to get the win."
Truax also had an RBI single in Spaulding 5-1 win over Londonderry on April 24.
"Garrett is a championship hockey player whose mental toughness has carried over into baseball season," Taylor said. "He's a great young man to be around and is very coachable."
Truax, through 16 games, has a batting average of .342 with two doubles, one triple and 10 RBIs.
Ethan Trufant, Dover High School, senior, outfielder
Dover head coach Scott Dubben said Trufant has had a solid senior season for the Green Wave, hitting .444 through 18 games.
"We're just getting a lot of production out of his spot in the lineup," Dubben said.
Trufant grinds out every at-bat, and Dubben said "you can tell that he wants it" with this being Trufant's senior season.
"He's laying it all out on the field every time he goes out there," Dubben said. "It's something that has been a good spark for us."
Through Dover's first 18 games, Trufant is batting .436 with 17 hits, including three doubles and one triple. He has 10 RBIs and has scored nine runs.
Charlie Tudor, Newmarket High School, sophomore, outfield/infield
Tudor has been an offensive sparkplug for Newmarket this season with huge performances throughout. He's also been impactful defensively at both third base and at one of the corner outfield spots.
"He's versatile," Newmarket head coach Stan Jurkoic said. "He's playing so well, and hitting good for us."
Through Newmarket's first 15 games, Tudor had a batting average of .526 with 20 hits, 21 RBIs, and 20 runs scored.
Hayden White, St. Thomas Aquinas, junior, pitcher
St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Eric Wills said White has been the team's ace all season with a 5-0 record.
"(White) has huge wins as our season and program grows," Wells said. "He has constantly attacked the zone with no fear, and gives us a chance to win every day. It has been huge having an arm like his we can count on, game in and game out."
Amos Winans, Oyster River High School, junior, outfielder
Oyster River head coach Cam Calato said Winans has been on an incredible hitting streak since the return from April break, playing a key role in the team's offensive success this season.
Winans, in the team's first 16 games, hit .467 with an on-base percentage of .556. He also has 21 hits, eight for extra-bases with six doubles, one triple and one home run.
"(Winans) also has a great glove and has played all over the outfield," Calato said. "It's fun to watch a player on such a hot streak at the plate."
Ethan Winchester, Marshwood High School, junior, DH/utility
Winchester, through Marshwood's first 12 games, had a batting average of .361, with six RBIs, eight runs scored, six walks, and a .477 on-base percentage.
"(Winchester) is a great kid, and a good hitter," Marshwood head coach Nick Mirabello said. "He has a very calm demeanor in the batters' box."
Mirabello added Winchester has been consistent the entire season.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: High school baseball: 19 Seacoast surprise standout players in 2026