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OSSAA 6A Regional Previews: Union Regional

May 2, 2023
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: 30-6

DISTRICT RECORD: 13-1

POWER 25 WINS: 9


PLAYERS TO WATCH


AVERY ORTIZ, MIF, 2023, OSU COMMIT

TATUM HAYWORTH, RHP/1B, 2023, EASTERN OKLAHOMA JC COMMIT

BRODY BRIGGS, C, 2023, ARIZONA STATE COMMIT

GRAYSON TEMPEST, OF/RHP, 2023, TULSA FOOTBALL COMMIT

TJ KING, RHP, 2023, CARL ALBERT STATE JC COMMIT

BEN FLUSCHE, OF, 2024

CAMDEN KNUTSON, OF, 2024

GAMALIEL JONES, OF, 2024


Coach Newkirk’s Redhawks squad took over the reins on the top spot on our Power 25 rankings around the midpoint of the season and have not looked back.  The biggest reason for the number one overall ranking has to do with the dominance they showed in the toughest district across the state with their 13-1 record and the top 4 in the district being ranked inside our Top 10.  It’s hard to imagine a scenario when a team has the number one ranked player in the state in Avery Ortiz and he not be the biggest reason for Union’s success in 2023.  While Ortiz has more than held his own, it's the emergence of Tatum Hayworth both on the mound and with the bat that has really carried the Redhawks especially in those tough district games.  What makes Union so tough is their ability to beat you without having to generate a ton of physicality in the lineup.  They can put up 4 runs on you in a hurry and a ball not leave the infield thanks to their elite team speed and aggressive approach.  When Union is executing their offensive plan and they continue to get quality starts out of both Hayworth, King, and even some of their other arms that have stepped up over the course of the year, they have to be considered one of the top contenders to deepen their run in May with an experienced club and one of the sneakier deep pitching staffs in 6A.


OWASSO RAMS


OVERALL RECORD: 23-12

DISTRICT RECORD: 11-3

POWER 25 WINS: 6


PLAYERS TO WATCH


JACKSON FARRELL, LHP/1B, 2024, ARKANSAS COMMIT

LUKE WILLIAMS, OF/LHP, 2024, OU COMMIT

BRAYDON SANFORD, RHP, 2023, ORU COMMIT

BRANDEN FLOYD, INF, 2023, LABETTE COMMIT

BODIE AMBERSON, UTL, 2024

COOPER AUSCHWITZ, UTL/RHP, 2025

EASTON HAILEY, MIF, 2026

JAMES SUITER, LHP, 2023, OTTAWA UNIVERSITY COMMIT


When it comes to getting your team to perform in the postseason, there might not be many better in the entire country than coach Larry Turner.  Turner’s Rams have seen some rare turbulence this year that the program is not accustomed to and that still led to a district leading 11 wins but by virtue of tiebreaker falling into the 4th place spot.  The defending champions knew they had some holes to fill especially on the offensive side of the ball from last year returning only 2 starters and getting those new guys comfortable in the lineup has been a major emphasis throughout the year.  At the end of the day they still have one of the most dominating arms in the State that someone will have to beat in Jackson Farrell.  Farrell has been a district starter throughout his entire career and proven himself to be amongst the top of the Aces across the region.  Luke Williams has seen a resurgence on the mound in 2024 giving them a very solid number 2 option as well as senior James Suiter that has done a fine job as a starter throughout the year.  Offensively they are led by last year’s 6A State Tournament most valuable player in Branden Floyd who has a knack for picking up big hits to go along with Williams and the talented sophomore Cooper Auschwitz.  Even though this season hasn’t gone as smoothly as most in coach Turner’s tenure, they still have the pieces and high end talent to make another run and defend their 6A state title.

BARTLESVILLE BRUINS


OVERALL RECORD: 21-13

DISTRICT RECORD: 7-7

POWER 25 WINS: 3


PLAYERS TO WATCH


ZEB HENRY, MIF/RHP, 2023, EASTERN OKLAHOMA COMMIT

BRENDEN ASHER, RHP, 2024

ERIC OLENBERGER, C/RHP, 2023

LUKE FOX, OF, 2023, SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE COMMIT


Coach Price’s Bruins more than held their own in the tough 6A-4 district with a .500 record and taking some of the state’s best to the brink in some close losses.  The offense and pitching staff are both led by the talented switch hitting senior Zeb Henry who is amongst one of the top leadoff hitters in 6A as well as stepping up his role on the mound and taking the ball on Monday nights for the Bruins.  Henry gives them a dynamic punch to the top of the order and he has done a good job all year of setting the table for the guys in the middle of the order.  Brenden Asher has proven he has the type of stuff and command to handle some of the best offenses in the state over the past two years thanks to a heavy sinking fastball and feel for commanding the breaking ball in the zone.  The Bruins might not have a long list of Oklahoma high school household names but don’t count them out as a dark horse in the postseason as they have shown themselves to be one of the most competitive teams throughout the 2023 campaign and have a lot of experienced guys in key roles all over the diamond.