Prep Baseball Report

Union Regional Preview


Scott Hood
OK/MO/KS/ARK Assistant Scouting Director

Prep Baseball Report Oklahoma has been all over the State the past few months scouting and covering games bringing you the most comprehensive High School baseball coverage.  Today we take a look at the teams in 6A with looks at their record, district record, Power 25 Rankings wins on the season, players to watch throughout the postseason, as well as a more in-depth look at each team's season and outlook heading out into the postseason.  Follow us on twitter @PBR_Oklahoma as we cover games throughout the next two weeks until the final dog pile of the season.

 

UNION REDHAWKS

OVERALL RECORD: 23-12

DISTRICT RECORD: 11-3

POWER 25 WINS: 8

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Avery Ortiz, INF, 2023, Oklahoma State Commit

Tatum Hayworth, RHP/INF, 2023, Uncommitted

Gage Arthur, OF, 2023, Uncommitted

Grayson Tempest, 2023, Uncommitted

Brody Briggs, C, 2023, Arizona State Commit

TJ King, 1B/RHP, 2023, Uncommitted

Hudson Birch, RHP, 2022, Carl Albert State commit

Parker Patterson, OF, 2022, Uncommitted

Coach Newkirk's Union squad might have a new name but the winning at a consistent level remains a constant.  The Redhawks aren't built on their athletic lineup 1-9 with some of the best speed and base running the State has to offer.  They are led offensively by Avery Ortiz and his 16 home runs he has belted this year along with a numerous double.  He's backed up offensively by the super athletic Grayson Tempest and Gage Arthur who has been swinging the bat at high level the second half of the season.  Parker Patterson has made another jump with the bat providing some physicality in the lineup as well as Brody Briggs really starting to make some noise offensively the past couple of weeks.  On the mound Tatum Hayworth is emerging as one of the best Ace's in the State thanks to his mid to upper 80's fastball and power curveball.  TJ King has also been pitching at a higher level in the past couple of outings as well as Hudson Birch giving Union some options on the mound heading into regional play.  They have had to do some reshuffling around the diamond defensively after losing their 4 year starting SS Jadyn Mcnealy to injury and his 42 stolen bases on the season will be missed.  That being said the Redhawks have a good amount of positional versatility that can recoup some of those losses and will need to play defense at a high level to make another run into the State Tournament.

 

JENKS TROJANS

OVERALL RECORD: 31-6

DISTRICT RECORD: 11-3

POWER 25 WINS: 6

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jack James, LHP, 2022, Eastern Oklahoma State JC commit

Chandler Fowler, RHP/INF, 2023, Uncommitted

Jaxon McAuliff, RHP/INF, 2022, Uncommitted

Ty Walls, SS/RHP, 2023, Uncommitted

Logan Tibbett, C/RHP, 2023, Uncommitted

Blake Lamb, RHP/OF, 2023, Uncommitted

Tanner Primeaux, 1B, 2024, Uncommitted

Korben Sponsler, RHP, 2022, Bacone College commit

Coach Timmerman led the 2021 Trojans to a remarkable run in the State Tournament and capturing the State Championship on the backs of Brooks Fowler and a group of skilled by unproven younger players.  Now those players are heavily experienced and playing at a very high-level reaching a tie for the most overall wins in the State at 31 across all levels.  Their Championship could not have been won without the work of Jack James on the mound in the semi-finals and he has turned himself into one of the top Aces in the state.  Korben Sponsler has been used effectively in multiple roles on the staff and they can turn to a plethora of arms in Chandler Fowler, Jaxon McAulliff, Ty Walls, and Blake Lamb to take the ball in critical spots.  Those arms are also the leaders on the offensive side along with they good production they have been getting out of Logan Tibbett and Tanner Primeaux making them one of the more complete teams in the State.  These players have been in critical spots in their careers already with taking home the hardware last season and if they can continue to get good starting pitching and timely hitting they have a chance at a repeat in 2022.

 

TAHLEQUAH TIGERS

OVERALL RECORD: 10-23

DISTRICT RECORD: 3-12

POWER 25 WINS: 1

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Levi Kelly, INF/P, 2025, Uncommitted

Beckett Robinson, OF, 2025, Uncommitted

Jacob Morrison, OF, 2024, Uncommitted

Brayden Northington, UTL/P, 2024, Uncommitted

Tyler Joice, C, 2022, Uncommitted

 

Coach Sam Nelson's first season with the Tigers has had some mixed results in the win/loss column but they are not a team to be sleeping on.  They have played a ton of close games throughout the year and even took down the number one ranked team Bixby earlier in the season.  They roll out one of the youngest lineups in the State with numerous freshman and sophomores getting it done at high level early in their careers.  Levi Kelly has shown the ability to attack good hitters and miss bats as well as some quality outings out of Brayden Northington.  Beckett Robinson has taken over the three hole spot as a freshman and has shown the ability to collect hits in bunches.  Tyler Joice provides a veteran presence in the lineup as one of the State's top hitters.  The Tigers have a very bright future with this young roster gaining valuable experience at the Varsity level and could play spoiler in this regional if taken too lightly.

 

PUTNAM CITY NORTH PANTHERS

OVERALL RECORD: 8-27

DISTRICT RECORD: 3-11

POWER 25 WINS: 0

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chris Wall, LHP/OF, 2022, Uncommitted

Landon Fonzi, OF/RHP, 2023, Uncommitted

Farris Shawareb, 1B, 2022, Uncommitted

 

Coach Moore's Panthers have had a bit of a tough season in the win/loss column but does have an older roster to rely on in the postseason.  They have 9 seniors on the roster and the rest is made up mostly of juniors giving them some experience to fall back on.  Chris Wall is a quality arm that when is around the zone and proven to be effective of getting off the barrel.  They have Landon Fonzi who has good bat speed from the left side of the plate that can also jump on the mound and provide some pitching depth.  Farris Shawareb is a physical presence in the middle of the order and is relied upon for a majority of the run production. 

OSSAA POSTSEASON COVERAGE