Mirror file photo Luke McCoy and Lilly will be trying for their 21st GCBL championship this summer.

The big change for the 2026 Altoona Greater City Baseball League is that the six teams will only be playing against each other.

With the four-team Altoona AAABA League now playing against the Johnstown AAABA League teams — at least for this season — the City League will compete on its own in 2026 with each of the six teams playing each other four times for a total of 20 regular-season games.

That’s what’s changing. What’s staying the same is that Lilly Conrad Chiropractic will again be the team to beat.

Lilly has dominated the league for more than two decades, winning an incredible 20 of the last 23 championships, including last season when it knocked off Refresh Med Spa, three games to one, in the finals. The other five managers in the league mentioned Lilly as the team to beat again this year.

Lilly returns its veteran core group, including last year’s league MVP Brandon Ickes and batting champion Cody Gallaher.

Lilly opens the season at 1 p.m. Sunday in Lilly in a rematch of last year’s finals against Pro Fab Solutions, which was known as Refresh last year.

Pro Fab lost a few players from last year but does welcome back last season’s rookie of the year, Joe DeRubeis, and pitcher of the year, Rich Ball.

Blair County Oil and Sheetz, which both made the semifinals last year, open at 5:30 Sunday at Vets, and Honey Baked Ham and Sinisi Detailing play at 6 p.m. Monday at Juniata.

The following is a capsulized look at the six teams:

BLAIR COUNTY OIL

Manager: Dale Snyder

Coach: Jordan Klausman

Last year’s record: 6-12. Lost to Lilly in semifinals

Returning players: Simon Casalvieri, c; Spencer Davis, p-1b-of; Trey Dilling, of-2b; Matt Duppsadt, of; Dalton Gochnour, p-1b; Brayden Harbaugh, of; Tyler Hoover, of; Jordan Klausman, p-c-2b; Rodney Patterson, p-1b; Noah Rodgers, p-1b-of; Seth Smith, p-of; Graham Spitz, p-inf.; Mike Turiano, p-inf.; EJ Ulery, p-of; Kevin Yoder, 1b-of

Newcomers: Brody Brazile, of; Rocco Grassi, p-of-inf.; Wyatt Hershey, p-3b; Julian Masone, p-inf.; Luke Scarton, inf.; Lane Sell, p-of; Chase Shaffer, p-inf.-of; Noah Smith, p-1b; Jordan Sneed, p-of; Brayden Williams, p-ss-1b; Ryan Yonkosky, of

Strengths: “Deep in most positions.”

Concerns: “Hoping to avoid a slow start.”

Overall outlook: “Much deeper team than last year — like our chances.”

Team to beat: Lilly, Pro Fab

HONEY BAKED HAM

Manager: Bill Dicken

Coaches: Don Taylor, Cody Swope

Last year’s record: 2-13

Returning players: Bill Dicken, p; Don Taylor, p-cf-ss; Cody Swope, 3b-2b-c; Nic Folcarelli, p-2b; Michael Stoner, of-3b; Reece Evans, p-ss-of; Jamen McCabe, p-inf.-of; Hunter Rossman, p-c-inf.; Garret Rossman, 1b-3b; Kevin Lehner, 1b-of; Dom Georgiana, p-c-inf.-of

Newcomers: Barry Gummo, p-c-inf.-of; Wade Harpster, p-inf.-of; Trey Claar, p; Zeth Osborn, p-1b-3b; Stephen Hanzir, p-3b-2b-of; Matt McCahan, p-inf.-of; Aidan Simpson, p-1b-of; Nic Light, p-3b-1b

Concerns: “Just getting good player turnouts for the majority of the games.”

Overall outlook: “I believe with the guys we have coming out, and with new coaching, we will be competitive and competing for a playoff spot.”

Team to beat: “Lilly is the top team to beat — they won the most championships out of every team.”

LILLY CONRAD CHIROPRACTIC

Manager: Ron Davison

Last year’s record: 16-2. Beat Blair County Oil in semifinals; beat Refresh Med Spa in finals

Returning players: Derek Younker, p; PJ Holberg, p; Shane Suter, p; Jim Dunlap, p; Tim Fabbri, p-inf.; T.J. Adams, of-p; Chad McCoy, c-inf.-of; Luke McCoy, inf.; Brandon Ickes, inf.; Ryan Ickes, of; Cody Gallaher, 1b; Josh Bracken, of; Alexander Yost, of; Ian Olsavsky, p-inf.-of; Preston Farabaugh, p-inf.; Alexander Yost, of; Landon Sinclair, inf.; Jake Hillard, inf.-of; Pat Gully, c

Newcomers: Jace Davison, inf.; Aiden Coleman, p; Jon Rauch, 1b-p

Strengths: “Experience.”

Concerns: “Staying healthy, and player availability is always a concern.”

Overall outlook: “It’s just like every season. The goal is to win a championship.”

Team to beat: Everybody

PRO FAB SOLUTIONS

Manager: Joe Fornwalt

Coaches: Randy Hoover, Rich Mento

Last year’s record (as Refresh Med Spa): 11-7. Beat Sheetz in semifinals; lost to Lilly in finals

Returning players: Alec Lytle, p; Alex Cherico, p-inf.; Brandon Cook, of-p; Brendan Baney, 1b-of; Joe DeRubeis, inf.-p; Luke Mento, c-p; Mark Mento, of-p; Mason Mento, of-c; Rich Ball, p-inf.; Ryan Hanlon, inf.-p; Sean Larson, 1b-of; Steve Doyle, p; Jake Zavalanski, 1b; Luke Repko, inf.-p; Maxwell Rogers, of-p; Robbie Yahner, c-dh

Newcomers: Cody Becker, p; Gaige Reighard, of; Sam Homan, p-of; Ian Slate, of; Josh Howe, p; Lance Westover, p-inf.; Aiden Steinbugl, p-inf.

Strengths: “Youth and speed.”

Concerns: “Overall defense and pitching consistency.”

Overall outlook: “We expect to contend again. Even with a young team last year, we exceeded our expectations. Most of the younger players could have played Kelly Federation but chose to play City League. We lost three very good veteran players — Jake Weibley, Bill Green and Tony Petulla. We would like to continue to build and get better. I personally believe with our new incoming players, we will do that.”

Team to beat: “I would like to believe it’s us, but until someone beats Lilly, it’s Lilly.”

SHEETZ

Manager: Kyle DeGennaro

Last year’s record: 11-8. Lost to Refresh Med Spa in semifinals

Returning players: Evan Sanders, p-of-inf.; Caleb Sanders, inf.-p; Connor Sanders, inf.; Noah Hillard, inf.-of-p; Tyler Treese, of; Chris Tromm, inf.-p-of; Kyle DeGennaro, inf.; Parker Gregg, inf.; Blake Johnston, p-of-inf.; Alex Schmoke, inf.; Julian Morgan, of; Brady Shehan, inf.; Eli Moser, p-of; Scott Meintel, of-p; Joseph Speece, inf.; Jared Pufka, inf.; Nate Empson, p-inf.; Ethan Karageanes, of-p

Newcomers: Owen Kravetz, of-inf.-p; Aidan Steinbugl, inf.-p; Lucas Muffie, of-p; Lex Dixon, inf.; Evan Young, inf.-p; Caleb Detrick, inf.-of-p

Strengths: “Solid hitting and pitching.”

Concerns: “Pitching depth.”

Overall outlook: “Excited to have most of the guys back from last season, and we’ve added some good additions this offseason to help us get further into the playoffs and ultimately win a championship.”

Team to beat: Lilly

SINISI DETAILING

Manager: Ken Durbin

Last year’s record: 0-12

Returning players: Raymond Watt, p-inf.; Brandon Durbin, inf.-of; Ricky Patterson, p-inf.-of; Logan Gotshall, p-inf.; Owen Lane, of; Brad Rosemas, inf.; Jake Schwader, inf.-of; George Schwader, p-inf.; Josh Vinglish, of-inf.; Adam Sinisi, inf.-p; Josh Scalice, c; Luke Roland, p; Nate Schueller, of; Isaac Kuntz, p-inf.; Tony Keith inf.; Zach Coukart, inf.-p; Ben Dombrosky, inf.-p

Newcomers: Jake Weibly, inf.; Bill Green, inf.-of; Mack Mings, p; Braedon Miller, inf.; Brandon Yeoman, c

Strengths: “Veteran players, newcomers.”

Concerns: “Pitching depth.”

Overall outlook: “Improving from last year — get back to the playoffs.”

Team to beat: Lilly