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PBR OK OSSAA Team Previews: Stillwater Pioneers

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.

Stillwater Pioneers | 2021 Football Boys | Digital Scout live sports ...

Team: Stillwater Pioneers
2022 Record: 28-12
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Jimmy Harris
Years at the Helm: 21 years total

OUTLOOK

 Coach Harris and the Pioneers have high hopes with a star-packed roster heading into 2023.  In 2022 there were all eyes on Stillwater thanks to having the first overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft with Jackson Holliday moving on to the Baltimore Orioles organization.  Replacing a number one overall pick that also broke the national hits record in a season would be a lot for most HS programs but the Pioneers have multiple players that can pick up the slack in the offensive production.  They have multiple guys that can leave the yard at anytime and strong overall team speed that allows them to take advantage on the base paths as well as cover a ton of ground defensively.  On the mound they return their number one after missing the 2022 season due to injury and will look to break in multiple new faces to the rotation as well as filling out the bullpen.  The Pioneers should be able to score some runs this spring so getting those new arms acclimated and comfortable in their roles will be key to getting them back to the 6A State Tournament in May.

IMPACT PLAYERS

 Ethan Holliday, INF, 2025, Oklahoma State commit

When your older brother goes number one overall in the draft it can be easy to be overlooked throughout the year but Holliday more than held his own as a freshman in 2022.  Holliday collected double digit homers last year and has one of the best left-handed swings in the country regardless of class.  He shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields with advanced power making him a threat regardless of who is on the mound.  As impressive as he is with the bat in his hand it's his defense that can really shine.  Last year he manned the hot corner playing underneath the ball at an advanced level with very soft hands and smooth actions.  This year he will shoot over to shortstop where he can show his range more and has enough arm strength that will allow him to stay on the left side of the infield in the future.  Holliday is the number one ranked prospect in the 2025 class in the country and will certainly be one that opposing teams will need to tread carefully with in 2023.

 

 

Owen Coil, INF/OF, 2024, ORU commit

Coil returns to the starting lineup for the Pioneers in 2023 as one of the more complete players in the state.  Coil has sneaky power from the left-side of the plate with a simple and repeatable swing.  He has shown the ability to handle elite pitching with advanced barrel control at the plate and ability to work the ball line-to-line.  Defensively he is able to play all over the diamond where he's spent time both in the middle of the infield and could possibly slide over to third this year or even spend some time in the outfield where he can cover a ton of ground.  With his footspeed he is able to impact the game on the base paths and one of the highest baseball IQ's around.  He is able to impact that the game in a large way by doing all the little things at a high level such as reading balls in the dirt and taking the extra bag.  With his athleticism and feel for the game, look for Coil to have more of an impact as he returns for his third year of starting for the Pioneers on the Varsity level.

 

 

Gage Gundy, 1B, 2023

Gundy is coming off leading the Pioneers to a State Championship in football as the trigger man behind center.  Although his name is known mostly on the gridiron, he more than holds his own on the diamond after a monster 2022 Spring.  Last year he hit at a .453 clip with 14 homers and 16 doubles using his highly leveraged swing to generate easy pop.  Gundy likes to work the ball up in the air and with his hand strength is able to launch light tower power homers regularly.  Hitting in the middle part of the lineup, Gundy will be relied upon again to be a main run-producing force and with his uncommitted status should be one for teams at the next level to check in on.

 

 

Barrett Morgan, RHP, 2023, Cowley County commit

Morgan missed the 2022 campaign due to injury and with early reports from the preseason Morgan is back and healthy and ready to roll in 2022.  Before he got hurt he was trending as one of the top right-handed arms in the state with a power arsenal and starter's profile.  Standing at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Morgan has shown the ability to work the fastball in the low 90's in the past and has a sharp and tight slider in the mid 70's that has the makings of a true swing and miss pitch.  With Morgan back in the mix, he should take over the number one role on the staff and he has the type of stuff that can handle any lineup in the state.

 

 

Anthony Smith, OF/RHP, 2023, Seminole State commit

Smith has the type of power game that can impact the game on both sides of the ball.  Offensively he has advanced strength and some of the easiest juice in the state.  He has big arm strength that showed up especially with his move to the outfield where he can make base runners think twice about trying to take the extra bag.  On the mound Smith has a big arm that has reached the low to mid 90's in the past.  When Smith shows up in the strike zone he has a chance to take over games and over power hitters in the box.  Smith has had a ton of experience at the Varsity level over the past couple of years and has one of the higher ceilings for the 2023 class.  If Smith is able to take his game another step, look for him to have a big impact for the Pioneers in 2022.

 

 

 

 

Talon Kendrick, OF, 2024

Kendrick is another Pioneer that missed a large chunk of the 2022 season due to injury but did make it back towards the playoffs where he showed the type of impact he can make.  Kendrick has one of the more projectable builds at 6-foot-1 and 195-pounds and has a strong tool set with his speed and power combo.  The ball jumps off of Kendrick's bat thanks to advanced hand strength and strong balance at the plate.  Getting a full year of Kendrick in the lineup will pay dividends for the Pioneers in 2023 as another power threat to help stretch the lineup even deeper.

 

 

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 Parker Jeffrey, C, 2024

Blake Aziere, RHP/INF, 2024

Samuel Grice, RHP, 2023

Bryson Mitchell, OF/RHP, 2025

Parker Edwards, C, 2025

Jackson Harris, INF/RHP, 2026

 


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

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