The Oklahoma high school baseball season kicks off on March 2nd, opening day for regular season action under Ossaa regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2021 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Oklahoma Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

If you would like your team covered, please have your head coach email us at [email protected]

Our 2021 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Lincoln Christian School
OSSAA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Jeff Comfort
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 5

TOP PLAYERS

Chase Hudson, 3B/RHP, 2021, Connors State commit 

Hudson has started on varsity since his freshman season and he’ll now put the final touches on what’s been an impressive prep career. A 6-foot, 175-pound athlete, Hudson regularly uses the sweet left-handed stroke that he possesses to his advantage and just flat out hits. You can already pencil him in to bat right in the middle of the Bulldogs’ day-to-day lineup and he’ll obviously be a huge part of their offensive attack. Hudson is also expected to serve as this team’s closer when he’s not manning the hot corner, making him a versatile asset for head coach Jeff Comfort and his staff.

Alex Newell, OF, 2021, Oklahoma Wesleyan commit

Captaining the outfield for this squad is Newell, a highly athletic 6.67 runner in the 60-yard dash that Lincoln Christian is hoping to get high-end production from in multiple different areas. They’re expecting him to be a key producer at the top of this lineup, all while giving them quality defense at an integral up-the-middle position.

Devin Qualls, C, 2021, Connors State commit

Because of what he’ll be asked to do on both sides of the ball, Qualls’ multi-faceted production could be the difference maker for this Lincoln Christian team. Built at a strong, sturdy 6-foot-1, 215-pounds, he boasts impact power from the right-handed side of the batter’s box and gives this team a true anchor in the middle of their lineup. He’ll be tasked with handling this pitching staff defensively too as the team’s starting catcher, which is obviously an important role to have. Expect Qualls to be a major contributor for this club in 2021. 

Max Brown, SS, 2022

You’ll be hard-pressed to find many members of Oklahoma’s junior class that possess the level of athleticism that Brown does. Boasting a proportionally strong and professional-esque 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame, Brown stars for Lincoln Christian on both the diamond and gridiron as a nationally recognized quarterback prospect. He’ll be this team’s starting shortstop - an obviously important role for a somewhat inexperienced athlete that lost key playing time due to the 2020 season being cut short. Nonetheless, his glove is capable of carrying him to the next level and we’re eager to see that play out this year.

Alex Gantz, RHP/OF, 2022

A 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete, Gantz will help patrol the outfield and use his 6.8 speed to cover ground in the grass and cause havoc on the base paths. The right-handed hitter has added strength and could be a doubles threat for Coach Comforts club. 

Luke Williams, LHP, 2024, Oklahoma commit

Lincoln Christian is home to one of the top freshman pitching prospects in the Midwest with Williams set to play an important role for this pitching staff. Already committed to Oklahoma, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound southpaw is expected to throw big innings for this team in 2021 and a large chunk of the success they have on the mound will likely come from him. He’ll be a mainstay at the top of this Bulldogs’ rotation for quite some time, but with a team ready to compete for the 3A state title this season, the young and inexperienced Williams will have to rise to the occasion.

OUTLOOK

STRENGTHS: The Bulldogs have a potent offense that they believe will allow them to score plenty of runs and compete with any arm that they run into. They’re particularly pleased with the assets and power they have up the middle in Newell, Brown, and Qualls. 

AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: As talented as they are, the Bulldogs’ pitching staff is admittedly inexperienced because of the lost 2020 season. They’re heavily leaning on a first year high school player, albeit one that is incredibly talented, to give them competitive innings on a weekly basis.

Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.

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