PBR OK OSSAA Team Previews: Charles Page Sandites
January 18, 2023
The Oklahoma high school baseball season kicks off on Feb. 20th for A-B, and March 1st for 2A-6A. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2023 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Oklahoma Preseason Power 25 Rankings.
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 as well as our own coverage on players in our team-by-team preseason analysis.
Team: Charles Page Sandites
2022 Record: 31-8
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Matt Brown
Years at the Helm: 3
OUTLOOK
The Sandites arrived on the scene in a big way in 2022 with breakout performances from multiple players coming together and ending in a Regional hosting position. The Sandites eventually fell in a back in forth battle in their Regional Final falling just short of the State Tournament. As disappointing as that was for the 2022 squad, the exciting mix of newcomers and returners with a lot of experience at the Varsity level makes the Sandites a strong contender in 2023. They do have the tall task of replacing some impact players from last year with Keaton Campbell moving on to Cowley County and Ty Pennington heading to Pitt State for football. Those two provided a large bulk of the offense in the middle of the lineup and the Sandites will be counting on their younger players that have had experience in the past to continue to develop and contribute. 80 percent of last year's innings are back on the staff this year and they are loaded with multiple strike throwing competitors. Their staff has some of the most depth giving coach Brown multiple options to navigate the schedule. Offensively the lineup has a solid mix of thump in the middle surrounded by strong barrel control guys that can set the table. Coach Brown also has a couple of freshman that could be ready sooner rather than later giving the Sandites a strong forecasting future as well as being ready to compete right now.
IMPACT PLAYERS
Dominic Ornelas, 2023, Catcher
Ornelas showed promise as a sophomore back in 2021 and made a real impact in 2022 both behind the plate and in the middle of the lineup. There weren't many catchers let alone hitters that matched his offensive production where he hit .420 with 10 homers. Ornelas shows power to both gaps and has some of the best hand strength in the state. Behind the plate he has shown improved receiving skills and an adequate arm making him very reliable working with the pitching staff. Ornelas remains one of the top power bats in the state that is still uncommitted and has turned his at bats into must watch events.
2023 C @DomOrnelas (@SanditesBall) goes deep to the biggest part of the yard for @bbatitans. One of the top power bats for in OK that’s still @PBR_Uncommitted #KCPI @PBR_Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/RRhqGUhOiA
— Scott Hood PBR (@PBRHood) June 30, 2022
Jabe Schlehuber, 2023, RHP/MIF, NOC Enid commit
Schlehuber returns as the Ace of the staff after an impressive showing in 2022. Schlehuber took the ball on Monday nights against some of 6A's best and more than held his own with a 6-2 record and 1.8 ERA. The fastball in the past has worked in the mid to upper 80's at times and flashes a strong slider and feel for changeup to help keep hitters off of balance. It has also been well-documented in the past his competitive nature on the mound and his aggressive approach to attacking hitters. For the Sandites to return as Regional hosts and to take the next jump into the State Tournament, they will rely very heavily on Jabe to carry the bulk of the innings in the all-important district games. Schlehuber will also see his role expand offensively to help pick up the slack from production lost to graduation in the middle of the diamond.
2023 RHP @JabeSchleXII (@SanditesBall) continues to show his competitiveness on the mound with the FB working up to 87 and showing two shapes on mid 70’s breaking balls and a swing and miss upper 70’s CH. pic.twitter.com/RcXGwlpWA3
— PBR Oklahoma (@PBR_Oklahoma) April 5, 2022
The right-hander has always had the size and frame that coaches are looking for and has shown promise in the past making little jumps along the way. Buxton might be finally primed to make that big jump that would match the hand speed after a strong summer and fall showing working the fastball up to 87 mph and showing a much improved breaking ball. Buxton put his game on display against some of the nation's top uncommitted players at last summer's Future Games and breezed through his two innings with a tilted fastball and aggressive attack. Buxton is working his way on to recruiting radars and if he makes another jump this spring has a real chance to be an impact guy on the Sandite staff.
2024 RHP @eli_buxton (@SanditesBall) continues to make strides on the mound after a strong showing at the Fall Upperclass Games where the FB worked up to 87 mph and showed an improved 78 mph SL with late action. 6’6 frame with a ton of projectability pic.twitter.com/brzxiG2aWj
— PBR Oklahoma (@PBR_Oklahoma) November 2, 2022
The left-hander has been getting innings for the Sandites since his freshman year where he showed strong pitchability with a three-pitch mix. Campbell has started to make some jumps on the mound with his physicality working the fastball now in the mid 80's with strong tilting action and a big sweeping curveball making him a tough matchup against left-handed hitters. Campbell made a big jump in his stuff on the mound over the summer and when he is composed, can be a definite impact arm for the Sandites.
2024 LHP @camp2_k (Sand Springs) showed off his 82-85 mph FB with good riding life thru the zone and 71-74 mph CB with big shape and depth at the Upperclass Games. Pitchability left-hander with stuff starting to make jumps pic.twitter.com/POKgUwhr7P
— PBR Oklahoma (@PBR_Oklahoma) June 27, 2022
Arnold is another junior arm for the Sandites that shows strong pitchability working the fastball in the mid 80's in the past. His physical and projectable 6-foot-2 and 180-pound build is primed for another jump and with the already tight spin rates on both the fastball as well as the slider, it is easy to see Arnold being a strong contender for a breakout campaign. Arnold will also see his role on the offensive side increase to help bring some physicality to the lineup.
2024 RHP @jacea_7 (@SanditesBall) is an interesting arm to follow with projectable 6’2 185 build and a FB working in the mid 80’s w/solid command. Also spins the curveball well w/good shape and good hand speed on CH. pic.twitter.com/6fE6cSXawK
— PBR Oklahoma (@PBR_Oklahoma) February 1, 2022
Brody Rutledge, 2023, OF
Rutledge came on strong down the stretch for the Sandites and will be relied upon to redeliver a the same results in 2023. This past spring Rutledge hit at a .398 clip working his way to the top of the order and gives the Sandites an athletic option in the lineup. Rutledge showed his overall athleticism this past fall earning the 6A 2 District 2 wide receiver of the year.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Rhen Rutledge, 2023, INF/OF
Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2023 season.
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