The Oklahoma high school baseball season kicks off on March 2nd, opening day for regular season action under Ossaa regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2021 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Oklahoma Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, 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.

If you would like your team covered, please have your head coach email us at [email protected]

Our 2021 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Collinsville High School
OSSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Tony Reeder
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 8

TOP PLAYERS

SENIORS 

Collinsville, like most teams at the upper levels of the OSSAA scale, will rely heavily on contributions from five experienced senior athletes eager to tie the bow on their prep careers. 

Leading the charge is a left-handed hitting OF/C that’s committed to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M JC and is ranked 76th overall in Oklahoma’s 2021 class: Hayden Barnes. He’s a stout, compact athlete with a rhythmic left-handed stroke that should provide familiarity in the lineup for the Cardinals.

Two more ranked prospects figure to see everyday playing time for head coach Tony Reeder’s squad: 3B/RHP Tucker Whitekiller (Uncommitted) and 1B/LHP Hunter Sills (Northern Oklahoma Enid JC commit). Whitekiller is a 6-foot, 150-pound athlete with upside levers in his frame and a line drive oriented stroke from the right-handed batter’s box. Sills brings an imposing 6-foot-2, 240-pound presence to the plate each time he strides into the left-handed batter’s box, flashing some above-average juice and feel to lift the baseball in batting practice. Both will be relied upon for contributions in multiple ways for Collinsvile in 2021.

Two more seniors will see time at two rather important defensive positions for the Cardinals this year: SS/2B Connor Duncan and C Hunter Harlan. Having experienced athletes at arguably the two most important positions on a baseball field could be key for this club. 

JUNIORS

Three members of the 2022 class are expected to see regular playing time for the Cardinals this season, including two ranked prospects that are both uncommitted: OF Cage Edgmon and 3B/RHP Braden Keith. 

Edgmon is an athletic 6-foot, 170-pound left-handed hitter with some feel to spray line drives off his barrel and a loose arm in the outfield that we’ve seen up to 86 mph from out there in the past.

Keith boasts a more compact, sturdy frame, standing at 5-foot-7 and 180-pounds with strength attached throughout. His swing works well in rhythm, showing off quick hands and comfortable barrel feel that allows him to tap into some advanced raw power for his age more often than not.

Another name to monitor in this Collinsville junior class: OF Chayse Schlomann. He’s another 2022 athlete that could see extended playing time for this team, especially as the season goes on. 

OUTLOOK

STRENGTHS: The Cardinals feel confident with the overall depth they’ll enter this season with. The players that they’ll be rolling out on the mound, as well as across the diamond, have the experience and versatility that coach Reeder covets. They also feel strongly where they’re at defensively, viewing it as another overall strength. 

AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Like several other teams across Oklahoma, Collinsville’s biggest weakness is the lack of playing time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.

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