2008 Baseball Preview

Rankings Rumblings
Here are the top 10 in Class 6A
1.    Owasso Rams
The defending state champs will be eyeing their 10th state title in school history behind another star-studded lineup that includes hard-throwing senior pitcher Brian Flynn.

2.    Jenks Trojans
Led by do-it-all senior Mark Ginther, who has inked with Oklahoma State, the Trojans will send out an experienced team with quality depth in 2008.

3.    Union Redskins
The Redskins, led by senior first baseman Nick Farnsworth, will look to unseat Owasso and win their third state championship in four years.

4.    Edmond Santa Fe Wolves
Santa Fe should field the best team in the western part of the state behind Wichita State signee Josh Rosecrans, who gives the Wolves a lethal bat and good arm on the mound.

5.    Midwest City Bombers
University of Oklahoma signee Daniel Meeley will carry the Bomber in 2008. Meeley went 8-2 on the hill last season with a 2.07 ERA.

6.    Broken Arrow Tigers
Senior catcher/pitcher Lance Rymel is just one of two returning starters for the young Tigers. Rymel, a Seminole State College signee, hit .321 with 36 RBIs and went 7-0 on the mound in 2007.

7.    Yukon Millers
The Millers will be carried by senior standout Justin Barnes, who will play his collegiate career at Oklahoma State. Barnes batted .354 with four home runs and 22 RBIs last year.

8.    Stillwater Pioneers
Stillwater, led by seniors Lane White and Korbin Kenmore, hope for a return trip to the state tournament under head coach Gary Gardner.

9.    Muskogee Roughers
The Roughers will be led by senior outfielder/pitcher Trevor Bowden and junior left-handed pitcher Michael Vieira.

10.    Norman North Timberwolves
Norman North will be sparked by senior outfielder Chris Ellison, a University of Oklahoma signee. Ellison hit .352 with 13 doubles and 35 RBIs last year as a junior.

ALL-HSSTM TEAM
OF – Chris Ellison (Norman North)
OF – Ben Kozma (Owasso)
OF – Dallas Beeler (Jenks)
IF – Justin Barnes (Yukon)
IF – Mark Ginther (Jenks)
IF – Josh Rosecrans (Edmond Santa Fe)
IF – Nick Farnsworth (Union)
C – Lance Rymel (Broken Arrow)
P – Brian Flynn (Owasso)
P – Chad James (Yukon)
P – Daniel Meeley (Midwest City)
P – Jordan Watson (Lawton Ike)

4 Players To Watch
Jarrod Huneryager, Senior, Owasso (OF)
Jarrod hit .395 with 14 doubles and 45 last year for the Rams. He also belted four home runs and scored 37 runs.

Nick Rountree, Senior, Enid (IF)
Nick will lead the Plainsmen this year after hitting .429 with 35 runs batted in last season as a junior.

Billy Balak, Senior, Moore (C)
Billy clubbed eight home runs and knocked in 70 runs while batting .460 as a junior catcher for the Lions in 2007.

Brett Ziegler, Senior, Broken Arrow (LHP)
Brett will be counted on to solidify the Tiger rotation as a senior left-hander. He brings some leadership to a young Tiger team.





Rankings Rumblings
Here are the top 10 in Class 5A
1.    Bishop Kelley Comets
First-year head coach Scott Ellis will try to guide the Comets to their third state title in five years behind senior Chris O’Brien and junior Matt Reynolds.

2.    McAlester Buffaloes
Outfielder Justin Klusak and pitcher Anthony Trevino give the Buffaloes a solid duo that should push them deep in the state tournament.

3.    Carl Albert Titans
The defending state champions will lean on senior infielder Robert Kizer and sophomore infielder and rising star J.T. Realmuto.

4.    Chickasha Fightin’ Chicks
Chickasha returns six starters from last season’s state runner-up team, led by senior left-handed pitcher and outfielder Kennedy Winn.

5.    Bixby Spartans
The Spartans have a solid nucleus returning in senior shortstop and right-handed pitcher Ryan Williams, junior outfielder Kody Lee and sophomore pitcher Jon Furlong.

6.    Miami Wardogs
The Wardogs have a strong duo with seniors Brett Abell and Nick Henson. Abell can get it done with the bat or on the mound, while Henson hit .477 with seven home runs last year.

7.    Duncan Demons
Senior outfielder Trent Wilkins will carry the bulk of the offense after emerging as one of the top hitters in 5A last year with a .509 batting average and seven home runs. He also swiped 35 bases.

8.    Shawnee Wolves
Senior outfielder Tajhler Phillips and junior right-handed pitcher Derek Hawkins hope to carry Shawnee to a state tournament berth. Phillips hit .453 with six homers and 40 RBIs in 2007.

9.    Pryor Tigers
The Tigers will rely heavily on the arm of junior right-hander Ben Jacks, who posted a 5-0 won-loss record with a 3.11 ERA and 59 strikeouts as a sophomore. Jacks also recorded three saves.

10.    Skiatook Bulldogs
Head coach Ryan Frame expects his team to compete with anybody on the schedule in 2008. The Bulldogs will be led by junior outfielder Chris Jones and junior catcher Coby Blevins.

ALL-HSSTM TEAM
OF – Justin Klusak (McAlester)
OF – Kody Lee (Bixby)
OF – Trent Wilkins (Duncan)
IF – Robert Kizer (Carl Albert)
IF – Matt Reynolds (Bishop Kelley)
IF – Ryan Williams (Bixby)
IF – Heath Wilda (Chickasha)
C – Chris O’Brien (Bishop Kelley)
P – Brett Abell (Miami)
P – Ben Jack (Pryor)
P – Tyler King (Duncan)
P – Laurent Zenoni (Bishop Kelley)

4 Players To Watch
Nick Henson, Senior, Miami (SS/RHP)
Nick is the leading hitter returning for the Wardogs in 2008. He hit .477 and also belted seven home runs.

Tajhler Phillips, Senior, Shawnee (OF)
Big things are expected from Tajhler this season. He batted .453 with six homers, while driving in 40 runs last year for the Wolves.

Max White, Junior, Durant (SS/RHP)
Max put up ridiculous numbers as a sophomore for Durant in 2007. He posted a .560 batting average while clubbing nine home runs with 63 RBIs.

J.T. Realmuto, Sophomore, Carl Albert (IF)
Only a sophomore, J.T. figures to be one of the top hitters anywhere in the state in 2008. He hit .438 while scoring 44 runs and driving in 43 last season for the state champion Titans.