YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Young Harris College baseball has released its 2026 regular season schedule, featuring a balanced mix of home-heavy early action, key Conference Carolinas matchups, regional rivalries, and a late-season push toward postseason play. Head Coach Stephen Waggener will lead the Mountain Lions for his ninth season with Young Harris College, following a 40 win 2025 campaign, finishing second in Conference Carolinas. YH Baseball returns three key players in 2026: Drew Bray (Sr.), Kade Smallwood (Jr.), and Jonny Smith (So.).

The Mountain Lions will open the 2026 campaign at home, welcoming Auburn University Montgomery for a three-game Opening Day series at Zell B. Miller Field. YHC and AUM will square off on Friday, Jan. 30, followed by games on Saturday, Jan. 31, and Sunday, Feb. 1, giving the Mountain Lions an early opportunity to set the tone in front of the home crowd. 

INSIDE THE SCHEDULE: 

Following Opening Day weekend, Young Harris renews the Battle of Blood Mountain rivalry with the University of North Georgia, traveling to Dahlonega on Tuesday, Feb. 3, before hosting the Nighthawks on Feb. 10 and again on March 4 at Zell B. Miller Field. 

The Mountain Lions then head south for a three-game non-conference series at Florida Southern College from Feb. 6–7 before returning home to open Conference Carolinas play. YHC begins league action on Friday, Feb. 13, hosting Southern Wesleyan University for a three-game series that continues with a Saturday doubleheader on Feb. 14. 

Conference road play begins Feb. 20–21 with a three-game set at Barton College in Wilson, N.C. Young Harris then returns home for another Conference Carolinas series, hosting Shorter University from Feb. 27–28. 

March features a blend of conference tests and midweek non-conference games. After hosting Ferrum College for a three-game conference series on March 6–7, the Mountain Lions travel to Mars Hill University on March 10 before heading to Florence, S.C. for a Conference Carolinas weekend series at Francis Marion University from March 13–14. 

Young Harris returns home on March 17 to host Lee University, followed by a road Conference Carolinas series at UNC Pembroke on March 20–21. The Mountain Lions then welcome the University of Montevallo for back-to-back midweek games on March 24–25. 

Conference play continues at Zell B. Miller Field on March 27–28 as YHC hosts King University for a three-game series, before the Mountain Lions travel to Tigerville, S.C. to face North Greenville University on April 3–4. 

April brings several marquee dates at home, beginning with Education Day on Tuesday, April 7, when Young Harris hosts Mars Hill University in front of hundreds of local students. Conference Carolinas action resumes April 10–11 as the Mountain Lions host Emmanuel University in the annual Roar War rivalry series. 

The Mountain Lions close out road play with midweek contests at Lee University on April 14 and Tusculum University on April 22, along with a Conference Carolinas series at Belmont Abbey College on April 17–18. 

The 2026 regular season concludes at home, as Young Harris hosts Erskine College for a three-game Conference Carolinas series on April 24–25 at Zell B. Miller Field. 

POSTSEASON: 

The Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship is scheduled for April 29 through May 3 in Gastonia, N.C., with games hosted at Caromont Health Park and Sims Legion Park.