Hudson baseball aims to defend league title as strong players return

There are very few high school baseball programs that can make the following two claims about their program. Some may be able to checkmark one of these bullet points, but not both like Hudson can.

First off, the 2025 Hudson baseball team won a district title (the first time since 2014), reached 20 wins for the first time since 2019 with a 22-7 mark, and won a league title for the first time since 2018.

Hudson's Chase Dennison readies for a pitch against Olmsted Falls on April 4 in Hudson. The senior is one of the top returnees, according to coach Buddy Dice.

Showing where the Explorer program is – last year, the Hudson system amassed an incredible 60 victories with the varsity getting 22 wins, the junior varsity notching 21 victories, and the freshman team taking 17 wins.

Those are two staggering highlights on Hudson’s resume and the Explorers in 2026 look to be a threat again under head coach Buddy Dice.

Hudson catcher Brady Studzinski catches a third strike against Olmsted Falls on April 4 in Hudson. Studzinski is one of the top returnees, according to coach Buddy Dice.

Hudson was a play or two away from winning a Regional semifinal against Oregon Clay in 2025 and has plenty of firepower back this spring.

Dice started in Hudson in 2000 with 2013 being his first year as the head coach. Dice (231-112) is excited about this year’s returning cast as well as the youth movement from a combined 38 wins last year at the JV and freshman levels.

Top returnees, according to Dice, include seniors Jack Sutton, Connor Eich, Luke Sutton, Chase Dennison, Alex Travis, Blake Bakonyi, Ryan Jones, and Brady Studzinski.

In addition, junior Xavier Pallo is back and is one of Hudson’s top returning talents.

Pallo, is a middle infielder who will see plenty of action at shortstop, plus he is a pitcher. Last spring, Pallo made first-team All-Suburban League and hit .328.

Jack Sutton could be one of the top hurlers in the Suburban League and is an Adrian (Michigan) College commit. The 6-foot-3 right hander went 5-0 last year with a 1.29 earned run average and struck out 40 batters in 30.2 innings.

Another pitcher is Eich, who blossomed last year and was a Suburban League honorable mention selection.

Dennison is another talent, who will play outfield with good speed and a solid bat, plus who can pitch with great ability. Dennison is a Kent State University commit.

Luke Sutton is another veteran with good speed as he will play in the outfield and is an Oberlin College commit.

Versatility is a strength for Travis, who can be used at second base, shortstop and third base. Travis can also pitch.

Bakonyi is back with a good bat and he can play first base and pitch for Hudson.

Also returning is Jones, who can be used at third base for the Explorers or play in right field.

Studzinski is also back for Dice and may be one of the better catchers in the league.

Dice, the Suburban League Coach of the Year in 2025, has a strong cast of returning players and some impactful newcomers.

Hudson will miss a deep graduation class in Suburban Leeague Pitcher of the Year Luke Mager, plus first-team all-league standouts in Justin Morgan, Tyler Havens, and Nathaniel Coates, among others.

Hudson relief pitcher Michael Brindley looks in for the sign against Olmsted Falls on April 4 in Hudson. Brindley is one of the top newcomers, according to coach Buddy Dice.

Top newcomers to watch, according to Dice, include senior Holden Reed (pitcher), juniors Max Zaffran (utility player), Luke Humenansky (third base), Michael Brindley (outfield-pitcher), Nate Grecol (catcher), Kyle Haluch (pitcher), Roman Shaffer (pitcher), Dane Liljestrand (catcher), Sean Alexander (first base), Otto Grill (first base-pitcher), and Hayden Lipinski (outfield-first base), plus sophomores Leo Milcetich (second base-middle infield), Chase Deutsch (outfield-pitcher), and Brex Stacey (middle infield-pitcher).

The Explorers are loaded with pitching depth.

Hudson relief pitcher Brax Stacey winds up against Olmsted Falls on April 4 in Hudson. Stacey is a top newcomer, according to coach Buddy Dice.

“We have no lefties this year and no Luke Mager, who dominated for us last year, but our staff has several returning arms with experience who have worked hard this offseason to compete for innings on the mound,” pointed out Dice.

“Connor Eich, Jack Sutton and Xavier Pallo return with the most varsity experience and Chase Dennison is committed to pitch at Kent State.”

As for the preseason, Dice had plenty of athletes working on the mound to bolster pitching depth.

“Brindley, Haluch, Reed, Stacey, Travis, Bakonyi, and Grill got opportunities to compete in the preseason. If healthy, I would consider our staff to be pretty deep,” said Dice.

Dice knows that the Suburban League National Division will be tough again after winning it with an 11-3 mark. Hudson will have a target on its back.

“We expect the Suburban League to be very competitive this year with several teams who can make a run in the playoffs. To defend the title, Hudson will have to beat very talented teams like North Royalton, Twinsburg, Stow as well as Brecksville, Wadsworth, Nordonia and Solon,” said Dice.

The coaching staff includes Hayden Knox, Greg Wallick, Kevin Fowler, Ben Gregg, Eric Erwin, and Jim McGrath.

Hudson fell to 2-1 with an 11-8 non-league loss to visiting Olmsted Falls (2-0) on April 4.

There were some offensive highlights as Studzinski had a double, a single, and two RBI while Deutsch had a double, a single, a stolen base, and one RBI. Jones hit a triple, scored twice with a steal, and one RBI. Luke Sutton, Travis, and Humenansky each added one RBI.

Sound pitching and timely hitting led Hudson to a 9-2 non-league home victory over LaGrange Keystone April 2. It was a game that the Wildcats actually led 2-0 with a pair of runs in the third inning.

Wildcat Ryan Younglas is a University of Toledo commit and while he did not play third base, Hudson roughed him up on the mound hitting him with four hits, four walks, and three earned runs in 3.1 innings of work.

Travis knocked in four runs with a double and a walk to pace the offense along with Deutsch, who had a 2-for-3 effort with a double, a single, two runs, one RBI, and a stolen base. Dennison went 2-for-2 with a double, a single and two runs. Luke Sutton had two hits, one RBI and a steal while Brindley had a hit and two RBI. Jones had a double and Humenansky had an RBI.

Jack Sutton (1-0) got the win on the hill with three frames of scoreless action, striking out five.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hudson baseball looks to defend Suburban League title