Best High School Baseball Program in Massachusetts
Austin Prep Baseball: A Championship Program Built to Win
Championships. Undefeated seasons. National recognition. College commitments. A Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year. Austin Prep players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft and signed by MLB organizations. Austin Prep Baseball has established a winning standard and continues to build on it.
One of the Best High School Baseball Programs in Massachusetts and New England
Austin Prep has built one of the region's premier baseball programs through sustained winning, high-level player development, experienced coaching, outstanding facilities, and a clear pathway for players at multiple stages of their development.
Located in Reading, Massachusetts, north of Boston, Austin Prep draws student-athletes from communities across Greater Boston, the North Shore, the Merrimack Valley, and beyond. The varsity program competes against many of the top prep baseball programs and college-bound student-athletes from across New England.
In a highly competitive baseball landscape that includes more than 340 high school programs in Massachusetts and nearly 90 NEPSAC varsity programs, Austin Prep continued to distinguish itself in 2026. The Cougars finished the season ranked No. 5 in Massachusetts by MaxPreps and No. 9 among New England prep schools by New England Baseball Journal, while Perfect Game ranked Austin Prep No. 7 in the entire Northeast Region.
The program also includes JV opportunities and a dedicated Middle School team, giving student-athletes meaningful opportunities to develop as they progress toward varsity baseball.
Our Baseball Philosophy
How We Do Anything Is How We Do Everything.
That philosophy guides Austin Prep Baseball at every level. We work hard, teach the fundamentals, prepare with purpose, and pay attention to the details every day. The standards do not change based on the player, the practice, or the game. From younger players learning the game to varsity student-athletes competing for championships and preparing for college baseball, the habits are the same: do the work, do it the right way, and keep getting better.
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MIAA Division 3 State Championships
26-0
Perfect state championship season
#24
National ranking during the championship era
19-0
Undefeated NEPSAC season
100+
Victories under Head Coach JP Pollard ’97
100%
Of baseball seniors accepted into collegiate baseball programs over the last two years
Varsity Baseball: Winning Is the Standard
Varsity Baseball sets the standard for the Austin Prep program. The Cougars have built a sustained record of championship success while competing against many of the strongest student-athletes and programs in Massachusetts and New England.
Most Recent Championship
New England Diamond Duel Champions
Austin Prep finished 16-3 in 2026 and captured the New England Diamond Duel championship.
20-Win Season
20-2 in 2025
The Cougars won 20 games in 2025, continuing one of the strongest stretches in program history.
Undefeated
19-0 in 2024
Austin Prep completed another perfect season and extended a winning streak that reached 31 games.
First NEPSAC Season
18-4 in 2023
Austin Prep entered prep competition and immediately established itself against a new schedule of New England programs.
A Championship Foundation
Austin Prep's current success builds on two MIAA Division 3 State Championships in 2018 and 2022.
Austin Prep’s 2022 championship team finished a perfect 26-0 and was considered the best high school baseball team in Massachusetts, earning the Boston Globe No. 1 overall ranking. The Cougars also reached No. 24 nationally in the National High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings.
Different seasons. Different players. The same expectation: prepare, compete, and win.
A Varsity Program Built for Serious Players
Austin Prep's varsity program emphasizes skill development, preparation, situational awareness, accountability, and competition. Players are challenged to perform consistently against high-level opponents and prepare for opportunities beyond Austin Prep.
JV Development
The JV level gives developing Upper School players meaningful practices, repetitions, coaching, and game experience as they work toward varsity baseball. In some seasons, the depth of the program has supported multiple JV teams.
NEPSAC Varsity Competition
Austin Prep competes against talented prep programs from across New England, giving varsity players meaningful games and regular opportunities to compete against college-bound student-athletes.
College Baseball Path
Austin Prep players have continued their careers at NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III programs throughout the country. Over the last two years, 100% of Austin Prep baseball seniors have been accepted into collegiate baseball programs.
Competing Against Top New England Prep Baseball Programs
Austin Prep competed as a NEPSAC independent in 2026 while playing a schedule filled with many of the region’s top programs. The Cougars faced Class A opponents Noble & Greenough, Phillips Exeter Academy, Deerfield Academy, Belmont Hill School, Worcester Academy, and Dexter Southfield, along with Class B programs Kimball Union Academy, Marianapolis Prep, Brewster Academy, Rivers School, Cheshire Academy, Middlesex School, Mount Saint Charles Academy, and Winchendon School. Austin Prep also faced Tilton School, a Class C program, as well as Putnam Science Academy.
That schedule gives Austin Prep student-athletes the opportunity to compete against established prep baseball programs from Massachusetts and throughout New England while preparing for the pace, talent, and expectations of college baseball.
A Proven Path to College Baseball
Over the last two graduating classes, 100% of Austin Prep baseball seniors have been accepted into collegiate baseball programs. Austin Prep players have continued their academic and athletic careers at NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III institutions throughout the country.
The Class of 2026 included 12 seniors committed to play college baseball, while 14 players on the varsity roster held college commitments during the season.
Bradley McCafferty ’26 — University of Virginia
Nick Ranaldi ’26 — William & Mary
Chase Edgar ’26 — Elon University
Charlie Kubiet ’26 — University of Maine
Colten Landen ’26 — Loyola Marymount University
Ryan Moreschi ’26 — UMass Lowell
Brady Andrews ’26 — Merrimack College
Aiden Greene ’26 — Salve Regina University
Brent Summerton ’26 — Salve Regina University
Mikey Brosnan ’26 — Washington College
Cam Jaena ’26 — Washington College
Jack Redmond ’26 — Grinnell College
Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year
Bradley McCafferty ’26 was named the 2024-2025 Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year.
McCafferty helped Austin Prep to a 20-2 season while batting .367 with a .474 on-base percentage, .550 slugging percentage, and 1.024 OPS. He committed to continue his academic and baseball career at the University of Virginia.
Austin Prep Players Reach Professional Baseball Through the MLB Draft and Free Agency
Evan Blanco ’22: Selected in the 2026 MLB Draft
Evan Blanco ’22 is the most recent player who played at Austin Prep to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. A four-year Austin Prep standout and member of the undefeated 2022 state championship team, the left-handed pitcher finished his Austin Prep career 21-0 with 216 strikeouts and a 0.58 ERA over 134.2 innings.
Blanco continued his college career at Virginia and Tennessee before being selected by the Athletics in the 13th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, 381st overall, out of Tennessee.
Peter Burns ’18: Signed by the Los Angeles Angels
Peter Burns ’18 helped lead Austin Prep to the 2018 Division 3 State Championship, capping a career in which the catcher hit .401 with 115 hits and 89 RBI. A two-time Boston Herald and Boston Globe All-Scholastic selection, Burns was also a four-time Catholic Central League All-Star and two-time league MVP.
Burns continued his career at Boston College, where he played five seasons for the Eagles. Following his graduate season in 2023, he signed with the Los Angeles Angels as a non-drafted free agent on July 11, 2023 and began his professional career in the Angels organization.
Jonathan “JP” Pollard ’97: Championship Leadership
Jonathan “JP” Pollard ’97 is the Head Baseball Coach at Austin Prep, where he has built one of the most successful high school baseball programs in Massachusetts and New England.
Pollard became Head Baseball Coach at Austin Prep in 2020. Across the 2020 through 2026 seasons, he led the Cougars to a 118-11 record, including a 19-2 season in 2021, a perfect 26-0 MIAA Division 3 State Championship season in 2022, an 18-4 record in Austin Prep's first NEPSAC season in 2023, an undefeated 19-0 campaign in 2024, a 20-2 season in 2025, and a 16-3 record with a New England Diamond Duel championship in 2026.
Since taking over the program in 2020, Pollard has led Austin Prep to two undefeated seasons, a No. 1 ranking in Massachusetts, a No. 24 national ranking, more than 100 victories, and a consistent pathway to college baseball.
Austin Prep Baseball
An Austin Prep alumnus, Pollard was named Head Baseball Coach in 2020 and has built a program defined by sustained winning, player development, college opportunities, and championship expectations.
100+ Austin Prep Victories
Pollard reached his 100th victory as Austin Prep Head Baseball Coach during the 2025 season and has led the Cougars through championship seasons, undefeated campaigns, and the transition into NEPSAC competition.
USA Baseball Leadership
Pollard's work with USA Baseball spans more than a decade and includes national-team leadership, pitching development, athlete development, international competition, and work with some of the country's top young players.
USA Baseball Leadership Across Multiple Levels
Pollard began working with USA Baseball in 2011 as pitching coach at the Women's National Team Development Program. He was named pitching coach for the USA Baseball Women's National Team in 2012 and became manager in 2014, leading the National Team through 2016.
During his tenure as manager, Pollard compiled a 25-3 record, earned a silver medal at the 2014 WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup, and led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto. USA Baseball named him its Developmental Coach of the Year in 2014.
His USA Baseball leadership continues today. Pollard returned to the 13U/14U Athlete Development Program coaching staff for a second year after serving as pitching coach the previous summer, and in 2026 he was selected as an assistant coach for Phase 1 of the USA Baseball 15U National Team Training Camp.
A Baseball Career Built Around Development
Pollard played four years of collegiate baseball at Salem State University, earning all-conference honors twice. He later returned to Salem State as a pitching coach. In 2008, he founded New England Stampede Baseball, which developed into one of the region's premier youth baseball organizations.
At Austin Prep, that experience informs a program built around skill development, preparation, situational understanding, accountability, competition, and the daily work required to win at a championship level.
Baseball Facilities Built for Development
Austin Prep's baseball facilities give student-athletes multiple spaces to practice, develop, train, and compete without leaving campus.
Regis Paul Little Memorial Field
Regis Paul Little Memorial Field is the home of Austin Prep Baseball. Built in 2020 as part of the Lower Fields Athletic Complex, Little Field gives the program a home designed for high-level competition and a complete game-day experience.
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Turf playing surface
The field creates additional opportunities to practice and compete throughout a New England spring season.
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Stadium lights
Lights extend the practice and competition day and make evening baseball part of the Austin Prep experience.
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Bleachers and press box
The stadium provides a home for students, families, alumni, Baseball Operations, and the complete game-day presentation.
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Two bullpen areas
Dedicated bullpen space supports pitching preparation and development during practices and games.
Auxiliary Field
The Lower Fields Athletic Complex also includes an Auxiliary Field, a natural-grass practice area that gives the baseball program additional outdoor space for instruction, drills, defensive work, team practices, and player development.
Outdoor Batting Cage
An outdoor batting cage at the Lower Fields Athletic Complex gives hitters another dedicated space for offensive development during the spring and fall.
Indoor Batting Cages
Richard J. Meelia ’67 Hall includes indoor batting cages, giving players an on-campus training option throughout the year and when New England weather moves baseball indoors.
Strength and Conditioning
The David E. Nelson ’81 Fitness Center serves as the strength and conditioning home for Austin Prep student-athletes. The facility includes free weights, Olympic lifting stations, and cardiovascular equipment to support strength, mobility, conditioning, and overall athletic development.
The player finishes class and goes to work. Hitting, pitching, fielding, strength training, practice, and competition can all happen within the Austin Prep campus environment.
Baseball Operations: A Program Within the Program
Austin Prep's Baseball Operations program gives students responsibility for many of the elements that create the game-day experience at Regis Paul Little Memorial Field.
The program connects baseball with sports management, broadcasting, statistics, media, marketing, analytics, hospitality, and event operations. Students learn by doing the work during live Austin Prep games.
Statistics and Analytics
Students track live game statistics through GameChanger, interpret plays, and help maintain the statistical record used by players, coaches, and families.
Broadcast and Game Presentation
Students handle public-address announcing, player introductions, walk-up music, the national anthem, scoreboard operation, and other pieces of the stadium experience.
Sports Management
Students support lineups, hospitality, media, content, and game operations while learning how preparation and execution come together during a live athletic event.
The Game Becomes the Classroom
A student tracking GameChanger has to understand baseball well enough to make immediate scoring decisions. The scoreboard operator follows every pitch, count, out, and inning. The public-address announcer prepares lineups and pronunciations. The student managing music organizes player selections and executes them at the right moment.
A Pathway Into the Sports Industry
Jenna Cobb ’20 helped launch Baseball Operations and served as the program's first student lead. Her Austin Prep experience helped inspire a career in professional sports. She later worked for the Boston Red Sox in Alumni Relations and joined the Boston Celtics as a Member Experience Executive.
Player Development Begins in Middle School
Austin Prep's school-based baseball pathway begins in Middle School. Students in grades 6 through 8 have the opportunity to represent Austin Prep, develop their game, and begin learning the preparation and expectations that shape the baseball program.
Middle School Baseball gives young student-athletes meaningful practice time, game experience, coaching, and an opportunity to strengthen fundamentals and their understanding of the game before reaching the Upper School.
Build the Fundamentals
Players develop hitting, throwing, fielding, pitching, baserunning, and situational skills through structured practices and games.
Learn the Game
Players learn positioning, responsibilities, situational execution, communication, and how to make better decisions as the game develops around them.
Enter the Austin Prep Program
Middle School players begin learning the preparation, accountability, teamwork, and approach that continue through the Upper School program.
Austin Prep Fall Baseball IQ League
Learn the game. Process the game. Execute the game.
Today's youth baseball landscape has become increasingly focused on playing more games and spending less time developing the skills and Baseball IQ that lead to long-term success. The Austin Prep Fall Baseball IQ League combines meaningful instruction with live game competition to help players develop both.
Led by the Austin Prep Varsity Baseball coaching staff, the eight-week league gives players entering grades 5 and 6 the opportunity to build their skills through on-field practices and competitive baseball games. Players receive instruction in fundamental skills, situational execution, and Baseball IQ, then apply those concepts during weekly games.
Who
Players entering Grades 5 and 6
Where
Austin Preparatory School, Reading, MA
Season
September 8 through October 29, 2026
Enrollment
Strictly limited to 26 players
Development Comes First
Each week focuses on four parts of the game:
Offensive Skill
Defensive Skill
Baserunning Skill
Pitching Skill
Enrollment is limited to 26 players, divided into two teams of 13. The smaller format creates more repetitions, more individualized instruction, focused coaching, and meaningful game opportunities for each player.
A Different Way to Keep Score
The Baseball IQ League connects practice directly to competition.
Players earn points for successfully executing the skills and situations taught during the week. A productive at-bat, proper baserunning read, defensive execution, or pitching concept can become part of the score.
The format rewards players for understanding and executing the game.
Learn it during the week. Execute it in the game.
Practice With Purpose
Practices are held Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:30–6:00 PM. Attendance at one practice each week is required to participate in that week's game.
Compete on Saturdays
Games are played Saturdays at 10:00 AM, giving players an immediate opportunity to apply the concepts they developed during the week.
Learn From Austin Prep Coaches
The Austin Prep Varsity Baseball coaching staff teaches the same emphasis on fundamentals, preparation, execution, decision-making, and understanding that shapes the Austin Prep program.
Baseball IQ Creates Better Baseball Players
Players learn to recognize situations, make decisions, execute the right play, and understand why that decision matters. Those lessons can travel with them into their spring and summer teams, Middle School baseball, and every level that follows.
One Program. A Developmental Path.
From a fifth-grade player learning how to understand and execute the game to a varsity student-athlete preparing for college baseball, Austin Prep's approach is built around the same fundamentals: learn, prepare, compete, execute, and continue improving.
1
Baseball IQ League
Grades 5 and 6 learn fundamentals, situations, decision-making, and execution from the Austin Prep Varsity coaching staff.
2
Middle School Baseball
Students in grades 6 through 8 begin representing Austin Prep and developing within the School's baseball program.
3
JV Baseball
Upper School players continue developing through meaningful practices, repetitions, competition, and coaching.
4
Varsity Baseball
Student-athletes compete at a high level against New England prep programs while pursuing championships and preparing for opportunities beyond Austin Prep.
Looking for the Best High School Baseball Program in Massachusetts?
Austin Prep is located in Reading, Massachusetts, north of Boston and within reach of families throughout the North Shore and Greater Boston. See Austin Prep Baseball for yourself. Explore Regis Paul Little Memorial Field, the Auxiliary Field, outdoor and indoor batting cages, bullpen areas, and strength facilities. Learn about the pathway from younger-player development through Middle School, JV, varsity, college baseball, and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Prep Baseball
Is Austin Prep one of the best high school baseball programs in Massachusetts?
Austin Prep has built one of the strongest recent records in Massachusetts and New England baseball. The program has won two MIAA Division 3 State Championships, completed multiple undefeated seasons, earned national recognition, and continued its success in prep competition with a New England Diamond Duel championship.
Where is Austin Prep Baseball located?
Austin Prep is located at 101 Willow Street in Reading, Massachusetts, north of Boston. The School serves student-athletes from communities throughout Greater Boston, the North Shore, the Merrimack Valley, and surrounding areas.
Does Austin Prep have varsity and JV baseball?
Yes. Varsity Baseball is the highest level of the Austin Prep program, supported by JV development opportunities for Upper School student-athletes. In some seasons, the depth of the program has supported multiple JV teams.
Who did Austin Prep Baseball play in 2026?
Austin Prep competed as a NEPSAC independent in 2026. The schedule included Noble & Greenough, Phillips Exeter Academy, Deerfield Academy, Belmont Hill School, Worcester Academy, Dexter Southfield, Kimball Union Academy, Marianapolis Prep, Brewster Academy, Rivers School, Cheshire Academy, Middlesex School, Mount Saint Charles Academy, Winchendon School, Tilton School, and Putnam Science Academy.
Do Austin Prep baseball players go on to play college baseball?
Yes. Over the last two years, 100% of Austin Prep baseball seniors have been accepted into collegiate baseball programs. Austin Prep student-athletes have continued their careers at NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III institutions throughout the country.
Does Austin Prep have Middle School baseball?
Yes. Player development within the Austin Prep school program begins in Middle School. Students in grades 6 through 8 have a dedicated team and can begin developing within the Austin Prep Baseball program before reaching the Upper School.
Does Austin Prep offer baseball development for younger players?
Yes. The Austin Prep Fall Baseball IQ League gives players entering grades 5 and 6 the opportunity to train with the Austin Prep Varsity Baseball coaching staff while developing fundamental skills, situational execution, and Baseball IQ.
What makes the Austin Prep Baseball IQ League different?
The league connects instruction directly to competition. Players work each week on offensive, defensive, baserunning, and pitching skills, then earn points during games by successfully executing the concepts they practiced.
Who is Austin Prep's Head Baseball Coach?
Jonathan “JP” Pollard ’97 has served as Austin Prep's Head Baseball Coach since 2020. Across the 2020 through 2026 seasons, Pollard led the Cougars to a 118-11 record, including undefeated seasons, an MIAA Division 3 State Championship, continued success in prep competition, and a New England Diamond Duel championship.
What championships has Austin Prep Baseball won?
Austin Prep won MIAA Division 3 State Championships in 2018 and 2022. The program has also completed undefeated seasons and captured the New England Diamond Duel championship in prep competition.
Where does Austin Prep play its home baseball games?
Austin Prep plays at Regis Paul Little Memorial Field at the Lower Fields Athletic Complex on its campus at 101 Willow Street in Reading, Massachusetts.
What baseball training facilities does Austin Prep have?
Austin Prep baseball student-athletes have access to Regis Paul Little Memorial Field, the Auxiliary Field, an outdoor batting cage, bullpen areas, indoor batting cages in Richard J. Meelia ’67 Hall, and the David E. Nelson ’81 Fitness Center.
What is Austin Prep Baseball Operations?
Austin Prep Baseball Operations gives students real game-day responsibilities in statistics, scoreboard operation, public-address announcing, music, media, hospitality, and sports management.
Has an Austin Prep baseball player won Gatorade Massachusetts Player of the Year?
Yes. Bradley McCafferty ’26 was named the 2024-2025 Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year.
Have Austin Prep baseball players reached professional baseball?
Yes. Austin Prep alumni have reached professional baseball through both the MLB Draft and free-agent signings. Evan Blanco ’22 was selected by the Athletics in the 13th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, while Peter Burns ’18 signed with the Los Angeles Angels as a non-drafted free agent in 2023.
How can a prospective baseball player learn more about Austin Prep?
Prospective student-athletes can visit the Austin Prep Varsity Baseball page, complete the Recruit Me form, visit campus, and connect with the Office of Admissions to learn more about Austin Prep and the application process.
