True Gems Go For Gold on the Diamonds

Norman North, Class 6A Coach: Brian Aylor Three players to watch: Brandon Smith, P/C/OF, Senior Absolutely destroys the baseball. Hit .513 a year ago with 14 homers, 61 RBI and only three strikeouts. He is also a dynamite closer, notching a 4-2 record, nine saves and 1.83 ERA. Steven Kohlsheen, P, Senior He's the ace of the mound staff and key to the Timberwolves' success coming off a season in which he was 7-2 with a 3.88 earned run average. Chris Ellison, CF, Junior Ellison is speedy outfielder that covers a lot of ground. Also has good pop at the plate with five home runs and 29 runs batted in with his .298 average last season. News to know: Timberwolves are coming off the best season in school history in which they reached the state semifinals with a 31-11 record. Smith, an early OU signee, is considered one of the top hitters in the entire state and arguably the top Oklahoma prep prospects in June's MLB draft. Coach Aylor played in the New York Yankees organization for three years before injuries forced him to retire in 1999. Edmond Santa Fe, Class 6A Coach: Lonnie Cobble Three players to watch: Ryan Wagner, P, Senior Wagner's one of the top southpaws in the entire state with great command. He had a sensational junior year in which he posted a sparkling 11-0 record in leading the Wolves back to the state tournament. Josh Rosecrans, C, Junior Emerged as a consistent performer as a sophomore. Moved into the starting position early on and flourished, especially at the plate where he blasted five home runs. Duke von Schamann, P/IF, Sophomore He's the son of famous OU placekicker Uwe von Schamann. Duke is one of the top young talents in the state with athletic instincts throughout the infield and a quick and powerful bat. News to know: The Wolves don't have the "big-name" seniors of years past but will rely on a wealth of good, young talent. Wagner developed into a legit ace with a perfect junior campaign and will be counted on to lead the push to state once again. After some early struggles with youthful inconsistency they will be a major player in the state chase once again. Carl Albert, Class 5A Coach: Wayne Dozier Three players to watch: Chad Carman, C, Senior Carman is a solid defensive backstop with a strong arm that swings a powerful bat as well. Hit .434 with four home runs, 16 doubles and 62 RBI a year ago. He signed to play at Oklahoma City University. Dustin Andrews, P/OF, Senior Andrews is a dual threat for the Titans. Great speed and pop at the plate with seven homers while batting .419 with 39 runs batted in as a junior. Southpaw averaged nearly a strikeout per inning with a 7-4 record and 2.45 ERA last season. Signed with Seminole State. Dillon Andrews, P/OF, Junior Fleet-footed standout that covers plenty of ground in the outfield. Andrews stole 23 bases and batted .464 with seven doubles and six home runs last season. He's a consistent mound performer that was 8-1 with a 2.90 ERA for the Titans as a sophomore. News to know: Arguably the best group of talent the Titans may have ever fielded. Dozier welcomed back six starters from a state runner-up squad that's hungry to add to the gold Carl Albert has already accumulated in football and basketball this year. Shawnee, Class 5A Coach: Todd Boyer Three players to watch: Gunner Wright, P/3B, SeniorWright is exceptional talent and the team's all-around leader. He's a gritty right-hander on the mound that posted a 9-4 record, 2.26 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 71 innings a year ago. He also batted .387 with 45 RBI and a team-best nine roundtrippers as a junior. Wright is one of the most versatile athletes in Class 5A. Tucker Brown, SS, Senior Multi-sport star is back after an injury cost him most of the football season. Brown is a terrific hitter with great hands on the infield. Batted .368 with 11 doubles, 42 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases last season. Derek Hawkins, P, Sophomore Hawkins is a budding standout of the future with the Wolves. He showed his potential as a freshman with three victories and a 2.89 ERA with 16 strikeouts. Was expected to be a key contributor on the mound after gaining that experience. News to know: Boyer takes over the helm of the perennial state contenders after longtime head coach Jeff Shafer left for the same position at Seminole State College in the fall. Wolves were state semifinalists last year and are shooting for even more with a veteran talent core. Chickasha, Class 5A Coach: Brad Gore Three players to watch: Chris Muchmore, P, Senior Connors State College signee is the key to the Chicks' success on the mound. Workhorse right-hander has good velocity and quality breaking stuff. Posted an 8-3 mound record and 2.87 earned run average in his junior-year campaign. Kennedy Winn, P/OF, Junior Talented lefty emerged as a go-to player as a sophomore and was expected to lead the offensive charge this season. Batted .338 and also notched a 4-2 pitching mark and 3.29 ERA in the Chicks' state tournament push last year. Kyle Hernandez, OF, Senior Nice speed in an overall very quick outfield rotation. Hernandez is a terrific table setter for the big sticks in the lineup with his knack for getting on base. Hit .317 as a junior. News to know: It only took Gore a couple of seasons to get the Fightin' Chicks back into 5A contention after a successful run at Dover. Eight starters are back off last year's state tournament squad, leaving high expectations. Chicks were state titlists in 2002. Bethel, Class 3A Coach: Robbie Burch Three players to watch: Dylon Howard, P/SS, Senior Howard is a spark plug for the Wildcat offensive attack with a terrific bat in the heart of the order. He led the charge to state a year ago with his .444 average, 14 doubles and 40 RBI in just 34 games. Signed with NOC-Enid. Tyler Martin, P/IF, Junior Crafty right-hander is the catalyst of the mound staff. Not overpowering but he doesn't walk people either. Was 7-2 with a 2.29 ERA last season, not to mention a .370 hitter that produced 26 RBI. Trevor Coats, P/3B, Junior Another solid pitching contributor that can carve opposing batters up with a bevy of off-speed stuff. Struck out only 41 a year ago but still notched a 7-2 record and an outstanding 2.35 earned run average. News to know: The Wildcats reached the state tournament for the first time ever a year ago, advancing to the semifinals. With eight returning starters, including the majority of their 28 mound victories back, expectations are soaring. Trio of strong-armed juniors lead the way. Jones, Class 3A Coach: Mike Lowe Three players to watch: Matt Judkins, P/1B, Senior Hard-throwing right-hander has been clocked in the 88-mile per hour range on the mound. Ability to start or relieve effectively. Was 5-3 with a 3.34 ERA as a junior. Also leads the Horns offensively, posting a .403 average with six homers and 43 runs batted in last year. One of the hardest throwers in Class 3A. Nick Crawford, P, Senior Ace on the mound staff should be the squad's workhorse this season from the right side. Very consistent around the plate, notching a 9-2 record and 2.36 earned run average last season. Brad Lattin, IF/OF, Senior Lattin is a versatile performer that can play almost any infield or outfield position at a moment's notice. Hit .343 with 10 doubles as a junior. News to know: Jones just missed the state tournament despite a 28-8 record, falling in the regional finals last year. With seven quality starters returning, coach Lowe's club is taking full aim on the next step this season. Dale, Class 2A Coach: Jerry Sanford Three players to watch: Seth Terry, P, Senior He's arguably one of the most unheralded southpaws in the state. The talented lefty can throw it by batters or slice and dice them to death. Was 9-1 with a 2.76 ERA for the Pirates in the fall. Jarod Palmer, C, Senior Exceptional defensive catcher than can flat swing the bat. Nice arm and instincts make him extremely tough to steal on. Batted .400 with 16 extra-base hits and 44 runs batted last season. Dillon Streber, CF, Junior Streber is a speedster that virtually drives the ship of an explosive offensive attack with his great blend of speed and power. Belted 12 doubles as well as a team-best 10 home runs and 49 RBI while hitting .416 during the fall campaign. News to know: Sanford, who was highly successful at Sulphur while guiding the Bulldogs to a pair of state finals (winning one), took over for the legendary Bruce Throckmorton in the fall and didn't miss much of a beat before falling to Silo, 7-2, in the state finals. Throckmorton retired from coaching after last spring's title, his 19th in 17 years. Washington, Class 2A Coach: David Vallerand Three players to watch: Zach Cargill, P/OF, Senior There may not be a player in the state rising up the draft boards of scouts more than Cargill. He's a well-built southpaw with outstanding velocity and command. Was 7-2 last spring, averaging more than eight strikeouts per start. Also hit .440 with nine home runs and 40 RBI. Signed with JUCO power Cowley Country in Kansas. Tyler Hancock, P/SS, Junior He's Mr. Do-It-All for the Warriors, serving as quarterback in football and starting guard in basketball. Just a winner in everything, hitting a team-high .475 a year ago with five home runs and 37 runs batted in. He's also a pretty good pitcher with a 3-0 record and 2.70 ERA. Steven Dudley, 1B, Senior Dudley flew under the radar last season to the tune of a .425 batting average and 18 RBI with four home runs. He should continue to emerge as one of the squad's top offensive threats. News to know: Washington has been in the mix for the last several years but has never been able to get over the hump in the state tournament. The Warriors should have another outstanding chance with Cargill sparking the charge. No football-playing school has won state in baseball in 2A or below since Salina in 1992. Dover, Class B Coach: Eric Castle Three players to watch: Newt Compton, P/SS, Senior Compton is a smooth-fielding senior infielder that fought through an arm injury in the fall to hit a team-best .475 with seven home runs and 44 RBI. He's one of the best hurlers around when healthy; tossed a no-hitter in junior Sunbelt competition last summer. Eddie Cervantes, P/2B, Junior A lightning-quick threat on the bases with a nice swing from the left side of the plate. Batted .440 with team-best eight homers and 33 batted in last fall. The right-hander was also the bell cow on the mound with a sparkling 9-1 record and 0.83 earned run average. Steven Stein, P/3B, Senior He's an overshadowed standout that performs at a high level every day in the field and on the mound. A key contributor in the club's state final's appearance last fall, batting .388 with seven home runs and team-high 54 RBI while also posting an 8-2 mound record and 1.37 ERA. News to know: Veteran squad has been to at least the state semifinals each of the past three seasons, reaching the title game twice (2005 fall champs). Very few teams even in higher classes have as talented a mound trio as Compton, Cervantes and Stein when healthy. Fell to Lookeba-Sickles, 13-2, in last fall's title contest.