Prep Baseball Report

PBR OK OSSAA Team Previews: Edmond North Huskies


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.

Edmond North Huskies - Jostens School Store

Team: Edmond North Huskies
2022 Record: 30-10
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Gary Bandy
Years at the Helm: 4

OUTLOOK

 Coach Bandy's Huskies finished their 2022 campaign one game shy of making it to the 6A State Tournament after dropping their opener in the regional before rattling off 3 wins to take Edmond Santa Fe to the if-game.  They have a few holes to fill off of last year's squad losing Gabe Murrell and Branden Sweeney from the pitching staff and having to replace Elijah Laus from the lineup.  The good news for the Huskies is they have some talented arms that have logged big innings in the past to give them one of the stronger starting rotations for District games.  Their depth in their pitching will need to be their carrying card as they look to break in some new faces to the lineup with them only returning three starters from last year's squad.  As long as the talented arms show their capabilities of taking over games it will allow them a little leeway especially early in the year.  With the front-line pitching staff, look for the Huskies to make some serious noise in 2023 as they look to make a deep run in May.

IMPACT PLAYERS

 Owen Hall, RHP, 2024, Vanderbilt commit

Hall returns to the starting rotation after gaining some valuable experience at the Varsity level in his sophomore season.  Hall has all the intangibles and stuff the next level is looking for with a low 90's fastball and feel for spinning the breaking ball at a high level.  Hall's spin rates are off the charts and it allows the stuff to play up at an even higher level.  If Hall is able to command the zone, he has one of the better swing and miss arsenals in the State and will not be a fun at bat for opposing hitters.  Hall ranks as one of the top right-handers in the Country and don't be surprised if he has a serious breakout campaign in 2023.

 

 

Pryce Bender, INF/RHP, 2024

Bender has been a mainstay for the Huskies since his freshman year and looks to continue to expand his role both on the mound and in the offensive production in the lineup.  Bender had a strong showing this past summer at the Future Games where he showed his 2-way talents against some of the country's best and more than held his own.  Bender is an elite athlete with strong speed and serious barrel whip that shows present gap to gap power.  Defensively he is able to make all the plays at shortstop with easy range and smooth actions.  On the mound we have seen him up to the low 90's and shows a sweeping breaking ball that helps get hitters off the barrel.  For the Huskies to take another step in 2023, they will rely on Bender's impact on both sides of the ball logging important innings on the mound and a run-producing force in the middle of the lineup.

 

 

Jacob Knox, C, 2023, Cisco JC commit

Knox returns as the catcher for the Huskies and middle of the order bat.  Knox has a quick release from behind the plate and shows a feel for receiving and blocking skills.  Offensively the 6-foot and 195-pound back stop shows some pull side strength with very quick hands and strong overall bat speed.  He also has some sneaky athleticism running a sub 7 second 60 and could play in the infield as well as the outfield if need be.  With Knox's experience at a premium position, look for him to be the anchor both in the lineup as well as on the field in 2023.

 

 

Nick Garcia, OF/RHP, 2023

Garcia has started to make some jumps in the past year especially on the mound where he is showing a fastball working up into the mid to upper 80's and flashing a feel for a swing and miss slider.  He started showing up in the strike zone more than he ever has before making himself a more reliable option for the Huskies moving forward.  Offensively he has strong athleticism with good speed and hand strength at contact.  Look for Garcia to see his role expand for the Huskies heading into his senior campaign offering them another quality option on the mound as well as stretch the lineup even deeper.

 

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Spencer Biggerstaff, OF/LHP, 2023

Will Crabtree, UTL, 2023

Isaias Centeno, 1B, 2023

Josh Klontz, OF/INF, 2024

Isaac Worden, OF/LHP, 2025

 

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

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