Athletics

VMI Baseball 2026 Season In Review

Photo courtesy VMI Athletics.

  • VMI went 28-27 overall, earning the fifth-most wins in a single season in program history and the most wins since 2010.
  • The Keydets earned a winning record in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010–11.
  • VMI’s 22 home wins were the most since 2007 and the second most all-time.
  • Sam Roberts ’11, head coach, became the fastest coach to reach 100 wins and moved into third all-time with 108 victories, surpassing former skippers Scott Gines ’83 and Donny White ’65.
  • Grayson Fitzwater ’26 was named Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year and first-team All-SoCon, with Bradley Garner ’28 and Owen Prince ’26 also receiving preseason honors and going first-team and second-team, respectively.
  • The Keydets had four record postseason awards, with Fitzwater named to the first team, Cole Raile ’27 on second team, Prince on all-defense, and Buddy Baker ’29 on all-freshman.
  • Fitzwater earned back-to-back SoCon Player of the Week honors in March.
  • Fitzwater shattered two single-season records with 21 homers and 50 walks, while Ayden Schnarrs ’28 broke the single-season hit by pitch record with 28 beanballs.
  • As a team, the Keydets swiped 181 bases, the third most in program history and second most in the nation.
  • VMI’s five shutouts were the most in program history. The staffers’ 6.31 ERA was the lowest since 2017 (not counting the 2020 shortened season).
  • Fitzwater now owns five career records with 61 home runs, 145 walks, 483 total bases, 214 games played, 223 RBIs, 1,492 putouts, and a .989 fielding percentage.
  • Raile led the team with a .347 batting clip and 70 hits. He was also named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catch of the Year Midseason Watch List.
  • On the hill, Hunter Sipe ’26 boasted a 3.76 ERA and five wins in 29 appearances, and the third-most appearances in VMI single-season history. Also producing five victories was Baker.