OK Season Preview: Charles Page High School
February 18, 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: Charles Page
2021 Record: 20-21
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Matt Brown
Years at the Helm: 2
OUTLOOK
Even though Coach Brown's 2021 squad finished a game under .500, seeing the Sandites on your schedule especially later in the season was something opponents were not looking forward to. The Sandites took their lumps early on in the season playing a bunch of guys without Varsity experience and it paid off down the stretch with their runner-up finish in the Stillwater regional. One of the main takeaways after watching the Sandites was how hard they play and how mentally tough they were. In 2022 they have a chance to be a real sleeper with multiple returners as well as some younger players that gained valuable experience in 2021. The Sandites have one of the deepest pitching staffs in the State with multiple strike throwers and a lot of candidates for starter roles. Offensively they have one of the scrappier lineups and have a good mix of physical guys in the middle and some strong on-base types giving defenses a lot to handle. The key for the Sandites in 2022 will be to get out of the gates well and continue to build some confidence in some of their younger talented players and the returning guys with good experience to carry an even bigger load in 2022.
Impact PLAYERS
Keaton Campbell, 2022, INF, Cowley County Commit
The senior short stop has been a main stay the past couple of years for the Sandites and will look to cap his resume with a strong finish to his high school campaign. Campbell has some of the smoothest actions in the state in the middle of the diamond and plays with excellent body control. He shows some real potential with the bat and when he is right can play a real physical game with strong gap power. Look for the Cowley commit to be a big run producing cog in the lineup as well as providing steady defense all Spring.
Ty Pennington, 2022, 1B, Pitt State Football Commit
Pennington returns to the lineup for his senior year after spending the 2021 season in the three hole. Pennington adds a physical presence to the lineup and has good athleticism at the first base position providing a big boost to the defense. Pennington hit a .358 clip in 2021 and will look to expand his numbers building off the experience gained on Varsity last season. Pennington is committed to playing football next fall at Pitt State University but has the tools and abilities to play college baseball had he chose that route.
John Keim, 2022, RHP, Eastern Oklahoma State JC Commit
Keim provides a steady strike throwing ability to the Sandite pitching staff with one of the more projectable bodies in the 2022 class. With a lean build from his 6-foot-5 frame, Keim works the fastball in the mid 80's with good sinking action and has shown the ability to miss a lot of bats. It would not be surprising to see him take a pretty large jump in velocity with his good hand speed as he continues to add strength.
Jabe Schlehuber, 2023, INF/RHP
One of the players that might play the biggest impact on the Sandites in 2022 will be the two-way infielder/RHP Jabe Schlehuber. The current junior spent his 2021 campaign pitching in the all-important district games where he finished with a 6-1 record. Schlehuber uses his solid mix and mid 80's fastball with good life through the zone to attack hitters and has strong strike throwing abilities. Offensively he has a quick stroke from the right side and showing some increased hand strength. Look for Jabe to make a big impact in 2022 on both sides of the ball and taking those important innings on the mound and make a push for a deep run in May.
The sophomore picked up some valuable experience late in the season on the mound for the Sandites and will look to build on that experience in a more pronounced role in 2022. Buxton has one of the more projectable frames in the 2024 class and shows good hand speed on the mound working the fastball in the mid 80's and feel for a low 70's curveball. Buxton will see his role and innings increase in 2022 and could play a big role for the Sandites pitching staff both out of the bullpen as well as some potential starts.
The sophomore left-hander has continued to make strides each time we see him. Currently Campbell sits in the low 80's with good rise through the zone and a well-shaped curveball that he has shown the ability to land in the zone in games. Campbell comes right after hitters and has shown that he isn't afraid of the big moments in the past. He's another young arm for the Sandites that will see his role increase as well as providing very good depth to an already deep pitching staff.
Arnold is another young sophomore arm that gained some experience late in 2021 with some big innings in the regional. He works the fastball in the mid 80's with good spin and shows a feel for shaping two different breaking balls as well as a solid fading changeup. Arnold already has a physical build at 6-foot-2 and 185-pounds and would not be shocking to see the velocity tick up as the Spring progresses.
Orenelas really came on with the bat especially as the 2021 season moved along and finished with 5 long balls. Ornelas has a physical build and shows some strength at contact as well as some solid catching skills and a feel for pitch framing. Ornelas will play a big role for the Sandites in 2022 as a physical presence in the middle of the lineup providing protection for some hitters as well as being a steady hand handling a younger pitching staff.
GUYS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Carson Seabolt, 2022, P
Jacob Shields, 2022, OF
Rhen Rutledge, 2024, INF
Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2022 season.
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