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.

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 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 .