OK High School Preseason Spotlight: Pioneer-Pleasant Vale
February 22, 2021
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: Pioneer-Pleasant Vale
OSSAA Class: A
Head Coach: Dave Riesen
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 10
TOP PLAYERS
Headlining this rotation is Koontz, one of Pioneer-Pleasant Vale’s most successful starting pitchers throughout their program’s history. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound southpaw is 21-2 in his high school career on the mound and he’ll almost certainly add onto that win total this spring. His fastball is reportedly working in the low-to-mid-80s and he compliments it with feel for both his off-speed pitches; a curveball and changeup. His track record and present polish obviously make him a massive asset for this team.
Dakota Wingo, 3B/RHP, 2022
Wingo is another strong and athletic upperclassman set to play a key role for this team. Built like a linebacker at 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, the right-handed hitting third baseman provides valuable contributions on both sides of the ball as a middle-of-the-order type with a quality glove at the hot corner.
Ty Dennett, OF/SS, 2021
Another athletic prospect harnessed within this lineup, Denettt is a 5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed hitter who’s glove will be relied upon for important up-the-middle contributions on the dirt and in the outfield.
Cal Dennett, INF, 2021
Just like his fellow Dennett comrad, Cal is a quick-twitch 5-foot-9, 145-pound speedster. He’s viewed as the tablesetter for this Pioneer-Pleasant Vale lineup, swinging a quality right-handed stroke from the top of this lineup.
Leyton Parker, OF/INF, 2022
Head coach Dave Riesen’s squad will add two brand new move-in faces to their squad this spring. The first is Parker, a 5-foot-9, 140-pound left-handed hitter that’s currency projected to serve as their leadoff hitter. He, like several others on this list, boasts above-average speed that plays up on the field and allows him to play above-average defense in multiple different areas of the field.
Parker is someone that the Pioneer-Pleasant Vale coaching staff is fairly high on internally and they view him as a major part of their program for now, as well as in the future. He’s a 6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitter that can currently play anywhere on the field with comfort. His likely landing spot long-term is on the mound, where we currently have him ranked as the 29th overall prospect in the state’s 2024 class. He’s regularly pumping a low-80s fastball right now, with plenty left in the tank, and he syncs that up with an above-average curveball. Expect Parker to contribute in a big way this season and beyond for Pioneer Pleasant Vale.
OUTLOOK
STRENGTHS: “Pitching and overall team speed.”
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: “Offensive power hitters. We will be a small ball team that must be aggressive on the bases in order to grind out runs.”
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