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: Checotah High School
OSSAA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Tom Butler
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS

Hayden Price, RHP/SS, 2021

Price is a legitimate two-way asset for this Checotah squad that can be penciled in as their ace on the mound as well as a legitimate middle-of-the-order presence for them. He’s reportedly touched 85 mph on the mound with intriguing complimentary stuff and has some bat strength attached to his right-handed stroke. 

Clancy Campbell, C, 2021

Starting behind the plate as the team’s defensive anchor, Campbell is an experienced senior that provides valuable leadership to this squad. He’s an above-average defensive backstop and another offensive stabilizer in this lineup. 

Brock Butler, 3B/RHP, 2022

Standing at an athletic, wiry 5-foot-11, 170-pounds, Butler is a standout junior for this Checotah squad. He, like Price and Campbell, is another quality offensive producer, but he brings a little more pop to the table than the aforementioned duo. Butler also boasts advanced arm strength from the hot corner - an asset for this team defensively. 

Jake Vernon, 2B/RHP, 2022

Rounding out this quartet of key players for head coach Tom Butler’s squad, Vernon is a 5-foot-8, 150-pound up-the-middle athlete that can pick it at the keystone and brings offensive experience to the table. 

OUTLOOK

STRENGTHS: “We have experience at every defensive position and also have some talented young guys who will see time in the varsity line-up. We’re an experienced bunch from top-to-bottom throughout our lineup.” 

AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: “We only have 3 starters who have any real varsity experience, but we do have some quality, young untested talent.” 

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

RELATED CONTENT