Union Redhawks Season Preview
March 3, 2022
The Oklahoma high school baseball season kicks off on Feb. 21 for A-B, and March 1 for 2A-6A. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2022 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 in our team-by-team preseason analysis.
Our 2022 preseason coverage continues today.
Team: Union Redhawks
2021 Record: 29-11
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Shawn Newkirk
Years at the Helm: 17
OUTLOOK
Coach Newkirk has been winning at the 6A level for a long time including three State Championships during his head coaching tenure at Union and has the type of club to make another run at one in 2022. Last year's squad played a plethora of younger players throughout the year that should continue to pay dividends as one of the most Varsity experienced rosters in the State. The finished first in their district in 2021 and eventually fell in the first round of the State Tournament. The good news for Union is the amount of returning players that they have after losing only one starter from their State Tournament game and have seen some of their younger players start to make strides. One of their calling cards that they rely on as a program is being able to defend at a high level as well as not beat themselves. When they play strong defense and throw strikes they make themselves very difficult to beat due to a pressure-oriented offense. With another year of added experience under their belts, look for these returning starters to continue to make noise in 6A in 2022 and make a run at another State Title.
Impact PLAYERS
Avery Ortiz, 3B/RHP, 2023, Oklahoma State Commit
The OSU commit is one of the more physically gifted athletes in the class and is coming off a big 2021 Spring and Summer. Ortiz has lightning quick hands at the plate and has started to really come into his own at the plate and showing the ability to produce power to all fields. Defensively he has strong actions and will continue to man the third base spot in 2022 where his above average arm strength plays at a high level. Ortiz will also jump on the mound for Union where the fastball has been up into the low 90's throughout the preseason and shows a short cutting slider as well. Union will look for Ortiz to play a major role in the offense as its main run-producer as well as finishing games in the back end of the bullpen.
Jadyn McNealy, SS, 2022, Cowley County Commit
McNealy has been a mainstay for Union throughout his career and without missing the 2020 season due to covid would be a four-year starter at shortstop. McNealy shows a strong knack for getting on base with his controlled swing from the right side and has been showing a little more gap power as of late. He finished the 2021 Spring with a .368 average and used his above average speed and high baseball IQ to steal 21 bags. His calling card is how he plays defensively up the middle with smooth actions and above average lateral range. Union will continue to rely upon him to keep setting the table at the top of the order and maintain a steady presence in the middle of the diamond.
2022 SS Jaydn McNealy (@union_baseball) drives one to center for a base hit. Good overall athlete and a very smooth defender in the middle. pic.twitter.com/dKoSBuS2aH
— PBR Oklahoma (@PBR_Oklahoma) March 26, 2021
Tempest returns to the Union lineup after spending most of the 2021 season at the top of the order. Where Tempest shines brightest is when he is able to attack opposing defenses with his plus speed both on the base paths as well as being an excellent drag bunter. The swing has also started to make some jumps in the recent past showing very good strength at contact and should hit for more gap power in 2022. Tempest covers a lot of ground out in center field and understands routes to the ball. Union will also utilize him out of the bullpen as a consistent strike thrower that attacks hitters with a low to mid 80's fastball. The starting QB on the football team the past two years, Tempest will continue to use his athleticism to impact the game in multiple facets.
The left-handed hitting catcher has been well-recognized as one of the top catch and throw defenders in the state with quick exchanges that show up in games. He is an excellent receiver as well as absorbs balls in the dirt at a high level. Offensively, he uses his strong rotational swing and is showing more juice off the barrel as of late with some potential pull side pop. Union knows exactly the type of defense and leadership from behind the plate they are getting in Briggs, taking another jump with the bat will play a big part of the offense for them providing them a nice punch from the left-side of the plate.
Hayworth has really been on the rise since the summer after suffering a season ending injury late in the 2021 Spring. He has a large projectable build and has been showing improved stuff in the preseason with the FB working up into the upper 80's and has shown the ability in the past to miss bats with the breaking ball. Last year he was rolling pretty good on the mound coming out of the bullpen working to a 1.7 ERA and Union will count on the right hander even more as he transitions into a prominent role on the pitching staff.
King spent last season as Union's Monday night starter as a sophomore and put up an impressive stat line of 8-3 and a 2.1 ERA. King works the fastball in the mid 80's with more a vertical up and down plan as well as uses a low 70's curveball with good shape and depth that has shown the ability to miss bats in the past. Getting King to consistently compete in the zone night in and night out will be key for both him as well as the Union pitching staff throughout 2022. He also spends time as their starting first basemen when he is not on the mound and has shown in the past to have good gap power providing a physical aspect to the Union order.
GUYS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Canyon Keller, INF/RHP, 2022, Northeastern State University commit
Hudson Birch, RHP/OF, 2022, Carl Albert State commit
Preston Petty, C, 2022, Northeastern State University commit
Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2022 season.
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