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PBR OK OSSAA Team Previews: Choctaw Yellowjackets

February 27, 2023
Scott Hood
OK/MO/KS/ARK Assistant Scouting Director

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.

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Team: Choctaw Yellowjackets
2022 Record: 30-8
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Shane Hawk
Years at the Helm: 8

OUTLOOK

Coach Hawk's Jackets squad finished their 2022 campaign making it all the way to the if-game before dropping a tough one run game the regional final.  Last year Choctaw spent the majority of the year ranked inside our top 3 thanks to a loaded senior class featuring Gabe Davis, Phoenix Meza, Jesse Tisdell, Ethan Rone, and a record setting season from Jarrett Flaggert.  Coach Hawk will have his hands full replacing the production that the senior class left through graduation but has the type of talent returning to make another strong run in 2023.  Their pitching staff is deep with multiple options both in starting roles as well as filling out the bullpen where they return 22 wins from their total of 30 from last season.  They also play defense at a high level which paired with their pitching staff should help keep them in every game.  Their offense returns multiple middle of the order type bats that have proven themselves on the Varsity stage.  Relying on their impact bats in the middle of the order to come through with high levels of run-production to help break in multiple new faces to the lineup.  If the pitching and defense holds up and their impact bats perform like they are capable of, even with the loss of their seniors from last year the Jackets have the type of pieces necessary to make a deep run into the postseason in 2023.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Cash Williams, C/UTL, 2025

Cash returns to the lineup after working his way into an everyday starter position for Choctaw during his freshman campaign in 2022.  Williams is one of the top players in the country for the 2025 class and proved himself amongst some of the nation's best during this past summer's Future Games.  Williams has a rare combination of speed and power especially for the catching position where his athleticism shows up in a big way.  At two separate occasions this past summer Williams popped 1.78's in a showcase setting with the throws showing elite carry to the bag.  The ball jumps out of his hand with natural arm strength and he has the ability to play all over the field if need be.  Offensively he already shows advanced gap power with the ability to work the ball line-to-line with elite bat speed and hand strength.  Look for Williams to handle the bat in the middle of the lineup for Choctaw in 2023 and be one of the main run-producers in the lineup.

 

 

RJ Jackson, 1B, 2023, Tulsa Football commit

Jackson might be best known for his work on the gridiron earning him a scholarship and spot on Tulsa's roster next fall, but don't sleep on him with a bat in his hand.  Jackson has elite bat speed which isn't always easy to come by with players with his stature.  The ball jumps off of Jackson's bat and he has shown the ability to handle elite pitching in the past.  He's been a four-year starter for the Jackets and should continue to be a big cog in the middle of the lineup in 2023.

 

 

Drake Fittro, OF/LHP, 2024

Fittro returns to the Jackets as an everyday starter in his first two high school campaigns and continues to make steady jumps in his game.  Fittro has strong barrel control from the left-side of the plate and shows strong doubles power working gap to gap.  His simple swing mechanics allow him to work the hands easy through the zone and reach extension against high-end velocity.  Fittro can cover a ton of ground in the outfield with smooth defensive actions which could translate to all three spots.  Fittro has also been big on the mound for Choctaw in the past working as a starter in District games.  Fittro will take over the leadoff spot in the lineup for Choctaw in 2023 and look for him to have a potential breakout year on both sides of the ball.

 

 

Brock West, C, 2023, Murray State JC commit

West will see his role expand for the Jackets in 2023 taking over the everyday catcher role to help in leading the pitching staff from behind the plate.  West has strong defensive skills with quick exchanges and strong carry on the throws.  West will help stretch the lineup even deeper and shows some power potential with some hand strength at contact.  Choctaw will heavily rely on West's abilities both behind the plate as well as in the lineup to take another step in 2023.

 

 

Camden White, RHP/OF, 2023, Eastern Oklahoma JC commit

White has gotten some time at the Varsity level in the past and will look to see his role expand as he's continued to make some big jumps in the recent past.  We got eyes on White recently at the OKC Preseason ID where he impressed both on the mound working fastballs up to 85 mph and feel for a sharp breaking ball and short fading changeup as well as showing some potential as a outfielder with big time arm strength from the outfield.  Translating these strong results in a bullpen setting to getting outs in actual games will be huge for he Jackets as he sees more opportunities in the future.

 

 

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cash Kuiper, RHP, 2023, Murray State JC commit

Easton Costa, RHP, 2024

Tanner Thompson, SS, 2023, Murray State JC commit

Broox Haithcock, RHP/OF, 2023

Cooper Zeiders, INF, 2025

Chance Webb, INF/RHP, 2023

Gaige Albright, LHP/OF, 2025

 

Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2023 season.

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