Another 2A program nestled in the Metro East, Columbia under head coach Neal O’Donnell has been one of the area’s more consistent clubs. He’s never had a losing season since taking over in 2016 and has won 20+ games in eight of his nine years at the helm. 

Columbia is also a program that’s produced several higher level prospects at the collegiate level. RHP Jackson Holmes (2021; Missouri State) had a strong career at St. Louis and Missouri State before signing with the Athletics at the end of last year’s draft. RHP Dominic Voegele (2023; Kansas) is one of the top arms in the Big 12 and will be in the first round mix for this coming MLB Draft. LHP Brady Mathews (2024; JeffCo) was a top JUCO product this fall, recently committing to SIU – Carbondale, and there’s plenty more names on that list. 

The Eagles went to state in 2022 and 2023, finishing third and second, respectively, and followed that up with a 24-8 season in 2024. Last year, they finished 17-14, defeating a strong Roxana club in their regional championship before falling to St. Anthony in the sectional semi-final. 

This year’s Columbia group will be without numerous key pieces from last year’s club, both at the plate and on the mound. With that being said, a majority of this 2026 team will be made up of young, talented players that were able to get their feet wet at the varsity level last spring and are ready to make the next jump to push this team forward. 

It’s a small senior class for the Eagles, but one that could be plenty impactful at the plate, given that 1B Brody Landgraf (2026; Creighton) is a part of that group. The highly physical left-handed hitter, who’s currently averaging 15.4 points per game on Columbia’s 20-4 basketball team, is one of the top offensive threats in the Metro East. His ability to backspin the baseball from a long, leveraged swing stands out, and Landgraf’s potential to be a staple in the heart of this lineup is clear. In 2025, he slashed .295/.380/.463 in 95 at-bats with 10 doubles, two home runs, and 17 RBI. Columbia will rely on Landgraf and his varsity experience even more so this season, given their youth, as he’ll look to put the finishing touches on a high school career that’s been plenty successful. 

Brody Landgraf

Expect the Eagles’ junior and sophomore classes to play prominent roles in the direction of their season. Nearly every other contributor, aside from Landgraf, that takes the field for this club will be a member of those two classes. 

We’ll start with the juniors, a group led by two returners in OF Will Kleinschmidt (2027) and LHP/OF Eli Simmons (2027). In 55 at-bats last spring, Kleinschmidt hit .400 with a 1.008 OPS and drove in 20 runs, with the expectation he’ll elevate into a more prominent role in the offense this spring. Simmons is a crafty, athletic southpaw that pitched to a 1.84 ERA in 19 innings and also logged 28 at-bats as a sophomore. 

Eli Simmons

RHP/CIF Collin Augustine (2027) is a name we saw a few times this summer and are intrigued by the upside he holds. Physical in stature, Augustine has the potential to be a two-way contributor for this club. On the mound, he’s capable of running his fastball into the mid-80s, and spins a bigger, bendier breaking ball off it in the low-70s. At the plate, it’s a longer, more leveraged left-handed swing with advanced bat strength off the barrel when he finds it. Augustine has the potential to be an impactful piece for this club if he can find consistency on both sides of the ball. 

C Cooper Reuss (2027) returns after a brief taste at the varsity level last spring. INF Jack Leitschuh (2027) and RHP Owen Worcester (2027) are two other juniors of note for this team. 

What makes the Eagles so intriguing from our perspective is the trio of sophomore returners they have from last year’s group. That starts with RHP/OF Connor Basinski (2028), who emerged as the team’s top arm as only a freshman in 2025. Basinski’s one of the more talented arms in the area, pitching in the mid-to-upper-80s from an easy, athletic delivery, with presumably more to come soon rather quickly. In 45 innings on the mound last spring, he punched out 42 batters and pitched to a 1.71 ERA, both of which are plenty impressive given his age and competition level. His opportunities at the plate were limited, yet successful, and we’re expecting him to step into a bigger role on that side of the ball, one that should prove fruitful for the Eagles’ run production. 

INF/RHP Ayden Sepich (2028) and INF/RHP Xavier Voegele (2028) are two other sophomores of high note for this team. Sepich is a low-80s strike thrower that pitched to a 2.33 ERA in 15 innings of work last spring, striking out 15 while walking just six. We’re excited to see the strides Sepich has made this winter in a few weeks at our Winter Showcase – IL event. Voegele, who’s the younger brother of former Eagles’ standouts RHP Dominic Voegele (2023; Kansas) and OF Mason Voegele (2025; East Central CC) is a lanky, long-levered right-hander with a multi-sport athlete and all sorts of upside on the mound. They’ll both be regular contributors on the mound, and likely at the plate too, adding even more talent on both sides of the ball to this Columbia team.