OK Spring Preview: Atoka Wampus Cats
February 24, 2018
In a desire to best cover high school baseball in the state, PBR Oklahoma will be on the road this winter stopping by scrimmages and gathering information from teams around the state, highlighting top performers and difference makers for each school. Today, PBR Oklahoma will take an in-deep look at the 2018 Atoka Wampus Cats.
Team: Atoka
Nickname: Wampus Cats
Class: 3A
Head Coach: Dwayne Dale
Years as head coach at school: Dwayne Dale
2017 Overall Record: 20-11
2017 Postseason Finish: Regional Finlas
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Cade Carroll (2020)
Dawson Graham (2018)
Coby Grimsley (2019)
SEASON OUTLOOK
The 2018 Wampus Cats will look to build on their success from a season ago. The program has been on the upswing the past four years going from zero wins in 2014 to 20 wins in 2017. The team is returning eight starters from the 2017 season, where the club fell short in the regional finals vs Hartshorne. Six of the nine starters from last year were freshman and sophomores. Expectations are high this season with those players who will be bringing experience.
Offensively, the Wampus Cats will have a balanced lineup one through nine. The lineup will be a mix of power in the middle of the lineup Dawson Graham, Hunter Wyrick, Nolan Burrage, Coby Grimsley, Brenton Beck and hit generators Ronnie Lowry, Austin Viney and Cade Carroll. The Wampus Cats in the 2017 season stole 102 bases with six of the nine starters in double digits, and they will look to build on those numbers this year.
On the mound, Beck will likely continue his success from last year with increased velocity and better off speed. Sophomore Carroll looks to build on his success from last season. Others that will contribute big innings for the Wampus Cats will be Burrage, Lowry, Graham, and Grimsley.
Defensively, the Wampus Cats are solid throughout with players being able to play multiple positions depending on who is on the mound.
High School coaches can request a 2018 team survey by emailing PBR Oklahoma State Director, Andy Urban, at [email protected].
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