See Flash home schedule at end of the article
(This article first appeared in the June print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Last summer was a humbling reminder of how quickly things can change in Ohio Valley League baseball. Just two years ago, the Henderson Flash were hoisting the OVL Championship trophy, but injuries and early departures disrupted the 2025 season, preventing them from finding consistency.
Hopes and expectations are renewed for 2026 as the team brings back a host of returning players and a talented pool of newcomers.
“We were really motivated to put a roster together that we thought was going to put us back in place to contend for a championship,” said Clay Bolin, owner and team president.
As Bolin and his staff finalized the roster, the Flash were thrown a proverbial “curveball” in late April when the team bus caught fire during routine maintenance, leaving the team without transportation a month before opening day.
Fortunately, working through the insurance process and a local dealer, Bolin was able to secure a new bus that was ready to travel by the team’s first road game.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the messages from all of our fans, our sponsors and the community. We had such an outpouring of support when that happened and it was pretty awesome to see everyone that’s been behind us for the past nine years to really want to step up…It meant a lot to us to have that support,” Bolin said.
Nearly half of the roster has local ties to Henderson, Evansville and nearby communities. The Flash also benefit from long-standing relationships with collegiate programs, such as Harding University, Lee University and LSU-Eunice that have consistently supplied talented players.
Bolin called his team “super deep” and expects that they’ll be able to spread playing time among many different players without experiencing a drop-off in talent.
Players with direct ties to Henderson County include pitchers Seth Galloway, Bryce Hayden and Reed Rheinhardt. Infielders Alec Satterfield and Cooper Vowels are also recent HCHS graduates. Pitcher Drew Isenberg is the son of former Cols baseball coach Nathan Isenberg.
Galloway will return to the mound after posting a 2.95 ERA last season over 19 innings, while Isenberg threw 17 innings with a 3.29 ERA.
Rheinhardt is entering his second season with the Flash and was one of the many players who suffered an injury last season. He recently finished his redshirt freshman year at Oakland City, where he was 3-1 with a 4.66 ERA in 38.2 innings.
“I think our hitters look really good,” Rheinhardt said. “I’m hoping I can stay healthy and pitch quite a bit for the Flash this summer. My main focus is going to be trying to keep everyone together.”
Satterfield, also entering his second season with the Flash, expects his team to win big this season. He called it a “blessing” to be able to play in front of the kids in his hometown. He plans to be an active leader in helping the team develop their chemistry, which he believes to be the key to success.
“We have a bunch of guys who have played together before…Playing with the people who you’ve played with your whole life gives you a little bit more confidence,” Satterfield said.
Vowels will be playing in his first season for the Flash and has fond memories of watching them play in their early days back in 2016. He is ready to compete alongside a “great group of guys.”
“It’s always been a dream to play for the Flash. Baseball player to baseball player, it’s easy when you meet guys that love and are passionate about the same thing that you are,” Vowels said. “I’m excited to get going with it and be a Flash player.”
There are a number of other hitters to watch within the lineup. OF Tyler Rinehart from Boonville hit .297 with 10 home runs, 33 RBI, and 18 steals in his freshman season at Ohio Northern.
Infielder Brayden Mineo from Harding University has shown plenty of pop in his bat. He was the winner of the home run derby on Meet the Flash Night and hit a home run and drove in five runs on opening day in a 10-0 win over the Fulton Railroaders on May 29.
Infielder Robert Hicks from Lee University could be a “big-time talent” at the plate and has turned heads in early practices. Outfielder Jacob Froehlich, who will be a late addition once LSU-Eunice completes their season, could be an impact player as well.
Evansville-native Clark Gries will return as an important piece of the pitching staff. He was second on the team last season with 32.1 innings, posting a 4-0 record. He’ll also be relied upon to be a leader on and off the mound for the new pitchers coming in.
Managing again will be J.D. Arndt, who Bolin called a “baseball guru.” Expect the Flash to be aggressive on the basepaths, forcing their opponents into tough plays.
Whether fans watch from the stands or the party deck, Bolin hopes to present a family-friendly experience coupled with high-quality college baseball for Henderson this summer.
