Ash Grove Baseball Primed for Bounce-Back Season

Pirates return seven starters, five seniors as they look to recapture past glory

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Ash Grove's baseball team is poised for a bounce-back season after relying heavily on youth the past two years. The Pirates enter 2026 with seven returning starters and a five-player senior class, bringing a level of stability and experience the program hasn't enjoyed since winning a state title in 2023.

Why it matters

Ash Grove has a proud baseball tradition, having won a state championship just three years ago. After a couple down seasons, the return of veteran leadership has the Pirates eager to climb back into contention and recapture their past success.

The details

Led by seniors Kyler Reece, Ty Messley, Sawyer Burks, Joe Jolivette, and Harrison Thompson, Ash Grove is ready to compete for a championship. Reece and Messley are coming off all-state seasons and will be key contributors, while Burks, Jolivette, and Thompson provide additional veteran presence. Sophomore Jaden Shorter, who earned all-conference and all-district honors as a freshman, figures to be a crucial piece on the mound and in the lineup. The Acosta brothers, Alex and Chase, lock down the outfield, and first baseman/catcher Landon Craid provides power in the lineup.

  • Ash Grove will travel to Clever for a March 13 jamboree with Cassville.
  • The Pirates' regular-season and home opener is March 19 against Marion C. Early.

The players

Kyler Reece

Ash Grove's catcher and pitcher, coming off an all-state season and expected to handle the team's young pitchers well while also increasing his starts on the mound.

Ty Messley

An all-state infielder last season, Messley's game IQ and consistency at the plate make him a dependable leader for the younger players.

Jaden Shorter

The sophomore earned all-conference and all-district honors as a freshman and will be the team's go-to guy on the mound this season.

Alex Acosta

The junior outfielder won the lead-off spot in the lineup and is a threat on the basepaths, leading the team with 29 steals last season.

Landon Craid

The sophomore first baseman/catcher is a big, strong hitter who will compete for a starting spot in the lineup.

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What they’re saying

“Now that this group has played together for a few years, they understand the expectations of the program and start to own their roles. We will start to hone their roles and develop their leadership skills. The more responsibility they earn, the more the players trust each other and really start to mesh.”

— Berrah Brown, Ash Grove Head Coach (ozarkssportszone.com)

“Kyler handles our young pitchers very well and builds their confidence. He will also see an increase in starts on the mound this year as he emerged as one of our strongest pitchers last season. His strong left-handed bat led the team in RBI's last year.”

— Berrah Brown, Ash Grove Head Coach (ozarkssportszone.com)

“Ty has always had a great middle infield glove. His game IQ coupled with his consistency at the plate make him a very dependable player for us. He's developed into a leader for the younger infielders to learn from.”

— Berrah Brown, Ash Grove Head Coach (ozarkssportszone.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This Ash Grove team mirrors the competitive spirit of past Pirate squads, with a veteran core eager to lead the program back to championship contention. Their relentless will to win and commitment to the program's proud tradition could propel them to new heights this spring.