Prep Baseball Report

PBR OK OSSAA Team Previews: Washington Warriors


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.

Logo

 

Team: Washington Warriors
2022 Record: 31-9 (3A State Champions)
Classification: 3A
Head Coach: Jeff Kulbeth
Years at the Helm: 5

OUTLOOK

Coach Kulbeth's Warriors squad dominated their way to a 3A outscoring their opponents in post season play be a remarkable 88-15 in 8 games culminating in their run-rule State Championship victory winning 13-2.   The tough news for their competitors in 3A is the 8 returning starters including the most impactful players coming back for the Washington as they look for a repeat title.  Their strength lies in their dynamic offense loaded with athleticism up and down the lineup.  They will have the ability to score in multiple ways thanks to their strong balance of speed and strength as well as some of the top barrel control guys in the state.  Their athleticism will allow them to have a pressure-based offensive approach especially on the base paths making them especially difficult to defend.  Speaking of defense, their defense especially in key positions might be the most loaded in the state regardless of class with some of the top defenders in the area manning the middle of the diamond.  Their biggest challenge will be getting some of their younger arms up to speed that don't have the depth of experience that their everyday position players have.  Getting these young guys competitive in the strike zone will be critical for the Warriors in 2023.  Luckily with their defensive prowess it can help bring those arms along quicker than for most programs.  

IMPACT PLAYERS

Camden Bates, SS, 2023, Tennessee commit

The 2023 middle infield class in Oklahoma is absolutely loaded and the leader in this pack when it comes to barrel control likely falls to Bates.  He has a unique knack of finding barrels and showing the ability to drive the ball to all fields depending on how he is getting pitched.  He plays the game with high energy and it shows up in moments that matter most.  Bates currently ranks number 356 in the country and that is due in large part to being one of the top "gamers" we see.  He mans the short stop position at a high level with strong actions and the type of fluidity in his movements that scouts love to see.  Bates' bat and glove played a large part in helping the Warriors to a State Championship in 2022 and look for the Tennessee commit to have even bigger impact in his senior campaign.

 

 

Kane Springer, 2023, C, Murray State JC commit

The senior backstop has played a large role in the success for the Warriors throughout his career through both his in-game production and as well as the leadership qualities he brings to the team.  Now a Murray State JC commit, coaches talk about his high baseball IQ and ability to handle the pitching staff at a high level as some of his biggest attributes.  It is just his mind that impresses however, the projectably built catcher has great catch and throw skills to go along with strong leverage at the plate.  Handling middle of the order duties as well as being the everyday catcher can be a tough ask but Springer has shown the ability to handle both at a high level and should continue to be a key cog on both sides of the ball for the Warriors in 2023.

 

 

Marlon Moore, 2024, MIF, Tulane Commit

The slick-fielding Tulane commit has always shown the actions defensively in the middle of the diamond the coaches at the next level are looking for.  He's got strong range and feel for the body throughout the fielding process that allows him to handle a variety of different plays and should allow him to remain up the middle at the next level.  It was his bat however that started to make a jump throughout his sophomore campaign in 2022 that gives some notice to him becoming a more complete player.  Moore has strong bat speed and barrel whip through the zone that gives him more power than maybe his frame would suggest and shown strong plate discipline with more walks than strikeouts in 2022.  Moore also provides big innings on the bump for the Warriors leading them last year in both innings pitched an strikeouts.  If the bat continues to make jumps in the way that it showed over the past year, Moore has a chance to be one of the more complete infielders in the 2024 class and should be one to keep an eye on over the next two years.

 

 

 

Dax McCaskill, 2024, INF

McCaskill had a breakout sophomore campaign at the plate for the Warriors and has impact was felt most in some of the most important games of the season.  It was McCaskill's two run homer to deep center field that capped off the Title in 2022 showing some serious raw power to go yard to the deepest part of the park.  McCaskill led the Warriors in home runs last year with a total of 8 to go along with an impressive .436 average overall.  He also brings a speed element to the game where he swiped 12 bags in 15 attempts making him a tough matchup all-around for opposing pitching staffs.  With his speed and power, look for McCaskill to have another breakout year in 2023 and a be a very close watch for teams at the next level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tristan Babbitt, 2024, LHP

Sutton Moore, 2023, OF

 


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

RELATED CONTENT