OSSAA 6A State Tournament Preview

WESTMOORE VS ENID

WESTMOORE JAGUARS

OVERALL RECORD: 25-14

POWER 25 WINS: 5

HOW THEY GOT HERE

After finishing in first place in 6A-1, the Jaguars hosted their regional at their own ballpark and picked up an easy 17-0 victory in game one against Capitol Hill.  They then went the long way to the State tournament after dropping their first contest in the winner’s bracket game to Edmond Memorial needing to win three games in a row.  They took care of cross-town rival Moore 4-1 before sweeping Edmond Memorial 8-5 and 8-4 to punch their ticket to this week’s tournament.

ENID PLAINSMEN

OVERALL RECORD: 27-9

POWER 25 WINS: 5

HOW THEY GOT HERE

After a second place finish in arguably the toughest district across the state in 6A-4, Enid hosted their regional that saw them put away Putnam City North 14-1 in their first game and then Jenks 12-4 to send them to the regional finals.  They would drop their first game against the Trojans in the championship 2-5 before bouncing back the next day to win 9-3 and send themselves to the 6A State tournament for the second year in a row.

THE MATCHUP

This first round matchup features two similarly battle-tested squads that have each gone through hot and cold stretches throughout the season.  Both teams played some of the tougher schedules across the state giving neither team the advantage on talent-faced throughout the year.  We don’t know for sure who is getting the ball for either team but we would have to speculate that 2023 Jake Kennedy (Cowley commit) would take the ball for the Plainsmen as he’s been their number one arm for the past couple of seasons.  Kennedy has the old-school sinker/slider combination and mixes in a fading changeup that makes it really difficult to get on the barrel consistently.  The Jaguars have options between 2023 RHP Mason Lindquist (OCU commit) or 2023 RHP Holden Woods who have each been throwing the ball well recently in big games.  Both teams have stretched lineups with guys that can beat you up and down the lineup, but handling each team’s impact bats will be critical for a win in round one.  There aren’t many hitters in the country that are as hot as 2024 OF Garrett Shull (OSU commit), who leads the Plainsmen as one of the top switch hitters in the country.  Keeping him in check and not letting some of the bigger bats like 2024 C McCage Hartling beat you will be crucial.  For the Jaguars it is the power bats of 2024 C Connor Cavnar and 2024 C/OF Tanner Fallwell that must be taken carefully.  The tricky thing for both teams, even if you take care of those impact bats, there are multiple guys who have proven themselves at the 6A level.  Enid finally broke through to the 6A State Tournament for the first time in years in 2022 before running into a talented Edmond Santa Fe team in round one, and Westmoore got hot down the stretch before falling to Santa Fe in the semi-finals with both teams looking to extend their season further in 2023.  This will be the first meeting between the two clubs in 2023.

YUKON VS STILLWATER

YUKON MILLERS

OVERALL RECORD: 25-12

POWER 25 WINS: 7

HOW THEY GOT HERE

The Millers earned the two seed in the Mustang regional and ran into drama right out of the gate.  In their opening matchup against Norman, Yukon played to a 3-3 tie through regulation before putting up a 5 spot in the top of the 8th to pick up the 8-3 victory.  They would then go on to beat their hosting school Mustang in back to back games winning 6-3 and 3-2 to punch their ticket back to the state tournament after missing out in 2022.

STILLWATER PIONEERS

OVERALL RECORD: 29-10

POWER 25 WINS: 7

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Coach Harris and the Pioneers still might not have caught their breath after an emotional and wild regional last weekend.  They started off with a 15-3 victory over Southmoore to move into the winner’s bracket game against host Sand Springs.  They would jump out to an early lead but surrendered an 8 spot in an inning that would ultimately send them to the loser’s bracket with a 9-5 loss.  Then in their game against Booker T Washington they jumped out to a 20-1 lead then things got dicey late with the Hornets putting on the pressure and eventually pulled off the 25-15 victory.  They needed to beat the host Sandites twice to make it to the State tournament and thought they had taken the first one on a walk-off infield single but a tough call at the plate and premature celebration ended the inning sending it to extras before they would eventually walk it off 4-3 in the 8th.  They turned around Saturday needing to win the IF game and put up back to back homers to take a 7-5 lead in the 6th before a foul tip off the umpire’s mask halted play for the day.  They returned Sunday afternoon with a two run advantage before giving up two solo shots to tie it back up in the 6th before driving in the winning run in the top of the 7th and punching their ticket to the State Tournament with an 8-7 win.

THE MATCHUP

The two teams have only met once in the 2023 campaign which saw the Pioneers come away with the victory in late March 10-2.  Both teams had to earn their path to this week’s tournament going on the road and having to each beat two teams in their regional finals that were talented enough to be in this field of 8.  They both have 7 wins against Power 25 opponents and have each challenged themselves to a difficult schedule.  With both team’s being challenged throughout the year it will come down to which team’s stars shine brightest in the biggest moments.  We don’t know for sure which pitchers will take the mound but we expect the Pioneers to start the game with 2023 RHP Barrett Morgan (Cowley commit) who missed the 2022 campaign but has come back strong from injury and shown the type of power stuff that can take over games.  It’s possible they could bring back 2023 RHP Anthony Smith (Seminole State commit) for Thursday’s first round matchup but he did have a larger workload this past week.  The Millers have a pair of potential to start 2024 RHP Cale Parr who punched out 9 in 7 innings of work last week or they could go with 2024 Chance Owens who had a strong complete game performance in last week’s semifinals.  Both have shown the ability to miss bats at a high rate which will be crucial against Stillwater’s potent lineup.  The Pioneers have arguably one of the toughest lineups to navigate with power up and down the lineup.  They leadoff 2023 1B Gage Gundy who went off last week to tally 6 homers in the regional.  If you handle him, you have to go through the number one ranked player in the 2025 class in Ethan Holliday (OSU commit) who has 15 homers on the year, then Smith and his 12 jacks, followed by 2024 INF Owen Coil (ORU commit) and his 7 homers on the year.  This stretch of hitters don’t allow the opposing pitcher to make any mistakes without one of them doing some damage.  The Millers have an experienced group of hitters with Owens and Parr at the top of the lineup before 2023 INF Wyatt Pace (Coffeyville commit), 2023 C Colton Strange (UCO commit), and 2023 1B Trevin Pettigrew (Murray State JC commit) to do some damage.  2024 Carter Parent has had an excellent junior campaign with the bat and 2024 OF Luke Graham has the potential to leave the yard at any time.  With Stillwater’s star power and Yukon’s gritty senior leadership, this opening round matchup is shaping up to be one of the most must-watch games of the week.

OWASSO VS DEER CREEK

OWASSO RAMS

OVERALL RECORD: 26-13

POWER 25 WINS: 7

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Coach Turner and the Rams had to go through uncharted territory going on the road for regional play for the first time since the mid 90’s to try and repeat as 6A State champions.  They played the three seed Bartlesville tight for most of the game before scratching a couple of runs late to pull away for the 7-2 victory.  In the winner’s bracket game, hits were tough to come by against host Union, playing to a 0-0 tie until walking it off on a close play at the plate in the 11th to win 1-0.  They were then able to pull off the 4-3 victory against a tough and scrappy Bartlesville team to punch their ticket and give them the chance to repeat in 2023.

DEER CREEK ANTLERS

OVERALL RECORD: 25-14

POWER 25 WINS: 6

HOW THEY GOT HERE

In a season that saw some ups and downs throughout the year, Coach Baza and the Antlers were able to secure a regional host spot thanks to their second place finish in 6A-1.  They made quick work of Lawton in the opener winning 12-0 before taking down Edmond Santa Fe twice 8-2 in the winner’s bracket game and then 14-3 to send them back to the State Tournament for the 4th season in a row.

THE MATCHUP

Both teams entered the 2023 season with high hopes and a talented roster looking every bit the part of a 6A title contender.  In our preseason Power 25 we had Owasso in the 2 spot and Deer Creek right behind them at number 3.  Both teams had some rare stumbles throughout the year but the talent was always there giving them time to right the ship at different points of the year.  High school baseball in Oklahoma is not like college baseball, there are no at-large bids into regional play so all that matters is how you’re playing at the end of the year.  Both teams were able to get hot at the right time down the stretch and both have the type of high-end talent to dogpile this Saturday at OneOk field.  With each team it comes down to their number one on the mound giving them a chance to win any game by taking it over.  Owasso’s 2024 LHP Jackson Farrell (Arkansas commit) has been one of the toughest outs across the state since he started his freshman year.  When he takes the hill, opposing lineups have to be ready to do something special as he rarely puts himself in any danger with free bases.  The Antlers have the talented right-hander in 2023 William Brady Hamilton (Wichita State commit) who has the type of stuff to rack up strikes and miss barrels in a hurry.  We are speculating that these two guys will take the mound offering us arguably the best matchup of arms against each other in the first round for 6A.  The Antlers have a dynamic offense that can beat you in multiple ways starting with leadoff man 2023 OF Taylor Tomlin (Houston commit) who seemingly always seems to find a barrel, to set the table for 2024 OF Ashton Hartwig and 2023 1B Luke Schimmels (Cisco JC commit) who provide some power to the lineup.  Owasso gets it started with the non-traditional approach of Farrell in the leadoff spot who’s taken a bigger role for the offense in 2023 to get it going for the talented UTL 2025 Cooper Auschwitz, 2024 UTL Bodie Amberson, and 2024 OF Luke Williams (OU commit).  They also have the benefit of turning to the clutch performer 2023 INF Branden Floyd (Labette commit) who played a key role in the Rams winning the title in 2022.  The big key for each team will be handling the front half of the order and to keep those leadoff men off the bags to stray away from the big inning.  Both teams have strong defenders up the middle of the diamond and run the bases well making this one of the more evenly matched games of the first round.  The two teams have already met once this year with Owasso coming away with the 4-0 victory.

BIXBY VS EDMOND NORTH

BIXBY SPARTANS

OVERALL RECORD: 29-8

POWER 25 WINS: 9

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Coach Delay and the Spartans had to hit the road to make it back to the State Tournament and survived a strong fight from Ponca City in the opener winning 2-0.  They then got to play 4-seeded Muskogee after they pulled off the upset against host Broken Arrow beating them 14-0 before punching their ticket to this week’s tournament beating host Broken Arrow 3-0.  The Spartans outscored their regional put up 19 runs in their three games while not allowing a single runner to cross home plate.

EDMOND NORTH HUSKIES

OVERALL RECORD: 25-9

POWER 25 WINS: 6

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Despite finishing in a 3-way tie for second place in the competitive 6A-1 district, via tie-breakers the Huskies had to go on the road to Choctaw to advance their way into the State Tournament.  Their path to the State was met with strong competition with an opening game against Norman North that saw them jump out to an early 3-0 lead and hold on to finish them off 3-2.  They then took down regional host Choctaw scoring single runs in the bottom of the 6th and eventually walking it off in the bottom of the 7th to win 3-2.  In the regional final it was the Huskies that had to withstand a late surge of offense from Choctaw but held on to win 7-6 and punch their ticket to this week’s event.

THE MATCHUP

In the final first round matchup of the day we have arguably the two most talented pitching staffs going head to head with each other.  Both teams have multiple options to go with on the mound and still have the firepower to make a deep run into the tournament regardless of who takes the hill in game one.  The Huskies have two potential starters for their opener in 2024 RHP Owen Hall (Vanderbilt commit) who has spent the season as the Monday starter and 2023 RHP Nick Garcia (Cisco JC commit) who started their opener last week against Norman North.  The Huskies third option, 2024 RHP Pryce Bender worked out of the bullpen early in the regional before starting the clincher in game 3.  All three have shown big stuff in the past and are certainly capable of beating anyone in the state.  If they decide to go with Hall, he has arguably the best raw stuff on the mound regardless of class in the state, with the fastball working in the low to mid 90’s and power breaking stuff that can chase bats out of the zone.  Bixby also has a ton of options to go with the potential of starting 2023 LHP Max Knight (OSU commit), Cooper Moore (KU commit), 2024 RHP Jett Hope, or even the reliable 2025 RHP Brian Justice.  It would not be a shocker to see Hope or Justice take the mound in game one as they both have shown strong starts in the past but we will speculate that it will either be Knight or Moore who each have the type of power stuff to take over games.  Offensively, the Huskies are led by Garcia, 2023 1B Isaias Centeno, and Pryce Bender in the middle and can stretch the lineup deeper with seniors Spencer Biggerstaff (OCU commit) and catcher Jake Knox (Cisco JC commit) who have each had a ton of experience at the varsity level.  The Spartans sport one of the scarier lineups to navigate with Moore setting the table for Knight, 2023 1B Owen Bailor (ORU commit), 2023 OF Jack Williams (Hillsborough CC commit), and 2023 UTL Nate Murphy (NEO commit).  Getting through those first 5 hitters for Bixby can be a challenge as each one of them can make you pay with a mistake at any point.  The biggest key for both sides, regardless of who takes the hill, will be to pound the strike zone.  Each potential starter has the type of stuff to take over the game, but limiting the free bases will be critical when runs might be hard to come by with the type of talented arms both teams possess.  These two teams will meet for the second time in 2023 with Bixby taking the lone game back in March 6-0.

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