Prep Baseball Report

OSSAA 6A Regional Preview: Stillwater Regional


Scott Hood
Staff Writer

 

The big school regionals are across the state this week and for the first time in nearly two years we have elimination baseball in the spring. After a packed spring of covering high school baseball and many of the top prospects on each team at all levels, PBR takes an in-depth look at each team in every 6A regional. Each team is spotlighted with a look at their team profile and outlook as well as a few of their impact players who have stood out this spring and players to watch as they enter the postseason.

STILLWATER PIONEERS

 OVERALL RECORD: 26-10

DISTRICT RECORD: 10-4

The Pioneers enter Regional play as one of the more consistent teams in 6A all season.  They have a balanced lineup that competes 1-9 in the order with some very experienced and talented hitters at the top. They can beat you in multiple different ways with really excelling at putting pressure on the defense with small ball as well as having a couple of guys that can leave the yard sprinkled throughout the lineup.  The Pioneers also have one of the deeper pitching staffs in the State to rely on throughout the postseason. 

IMPACT PLAYERS

JACKSON HOLLIDAY, SS, 2022 – One of the top players in the State and in the Country, Holliday is the man in the lineup that makes the Pioneers very dangerous.  His balanced swing and control over the strike zone makes him one of the tougher outs as well as his ability to drive the ball with power all over the yard.  He has also shown very good defensive ability in the middle of the diamond and is one of the more advanced baseball IQ guys we have scouted.

BRENNAN THOMPSON, OF, 2021 – The man that provides the protection behind Holliday has had a big season for the Pioneers.  He comes up to the plate often with guys on base in front of him and has been delivering in providing big run production with his short and compact swing and strength in the barrel.

LOUIE COCA, INF/RHP, 2021 – The Senior utility man has been a big key for the Pioneer’s success this season making contributions on both sides of the ball.  Hitting in the middle of the order Coca, has shown the ability to make very hard contact with good on base skills.  He has been used as a back-end stopper out of the bullpen this year where he pounds the zone and does a good job of attacking hitters.

GUYS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

JACKSON YOUNG, C, 2021

ZACH RODEN, RHP/1B, 2021

OWEN COIL, INF, 2024

DREW BLAKE, LHP, 2021

 

BIXBY SPARTANS

OVERALL RECORD: 25-11

DISTRICT RECORD: 10-4

The Spartans come into Regional play with a couple of very experienced upper-classmen and a good mix of young talent.  They started the season on fire winning 14 of their first 17 games picking up some good wins against quality opponents.  The bats have cooled off a bit down the stretch but the Spartans still have enough talented guys in the locker room to make some noise in the postseason with a couple of impact players capable of carrying the team.

IMPACT PLAYERS

COOPER MOORE, C/RHP, 2023 – The Sophomore catcher and lead-off man has been a very consistent performer since the middle of the season.  Moore has a level bat path and line drive approach which he uses to drive the ball to all fields.  Where he provides the most value for the Spartans is on the mound.  Used primarily as a bullpen guy to start the season, Moore has taken on the starter role where the upper 80’s fastball and sharp breaking balls have continued to play up at a high level.

BLAKE WILLIAMS, OF, 2021 – The Senior outfielder provides a physical presence to the Spartan lineup.  He has shown the ability to park balls over the fence as well as show good gap power.  Williams plays good defense in the outfield with a strong arm and will also be asked to pitch out of the bullpen.

BLAKE NICHOLS, 1B, 2021 – The Senior first baseman is one of the more consistent hitters in the State. Nichols uses a line-to-line approach with a level bat path and consistent rhythm and will be counted on to be a big run producer in the postseason.

GUYS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

BARRICK LEU, SS, 2022

OWEN BAILOR, LHP, 2023

 

SAND SPRINGS SANDITES

OVERALL RECORD: 16-19

DISTRICT RECORD: 5-9

One of the scrappier teams in the State, the Sandites have shown their ability to play with anyone this season with a couple of wins over the blue bloods of 6A.  They play with a ton of passion and fight which keeps them in almost every game with a lot of their losses coming in close affairs.  Their lineup doesn’t have much star power, but they make up for it with a bunch of grinders and good athletes.  Don’t be surprised if they give some teams a run for their money this week in Postseason play.

IMPACT PLAYERS

JABE SCHLEHUBER, RHP, 2023 – The Sophomore right hander has been the ace of the staff all season long with his low 80’s fastball and mid 60’s curveball.  He comes right after hitters forcing early contact and when he is on, will induce some quick innings allowing him to work deep into games.

KEATON CAMPBELL, SS, 2022 – The Junior shortstop has come on as of late after a slower start to the season hitting in the middle of the order.  Campbell has some strength in the barrel with a balanced swing and shows some bat speed.  He is also one of the better defending short stops in the area with smooth actions and very good arm strength across the diamond.

RHEN RUTLEDGE, INF, 2024 – The Freshman infielder has been the biggest surprise for the Sandites this season now manning the three-hole position in the lineup and being responsible for a lot of the run production.  Rhen has a smooth left-handed stroke with good barrel control and will only get more physical as he gets stronger in the future.  He has come up huge for the Sandites in the biggest spots of the season and is a guy opposing pitching staffs will have to navigate in the Postseason.

GUYS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

CASON SAVAGE, OF, 2021

KAYDEN CAMPBELL, LHP, 2024

 

BOOKER T WASHINGTON HORNETS

OVERALL RECORD: 7-24

DISTRICT RECORD: 2-12

The Hornets haven’t had the season they were hoping for but they do have a couple interesting underclassmen prospects that have gotten a ton of experience this Spring.  Getting some of these younger guys postseason at bats will pay dividends for the program in the future.  That being said, you can’t sleep on the Hornets as they have given some of the better teams in the State a few scares this season playing in some really tight games.

GUYS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

JESSE SLIMP, INF, 2022

JOE IJAMS, INF, 2022