OK High School Preseason Spotlight: Yukon
March 4, 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: Yukon
OSSAA Class: 6A
Head Coach: Kevin James
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 4
TOP PLAYERS
Carson Benge, 3B/RHP, 2021, Oklahoma State commit
Ranked sixth overall in the state’s senior class, Benge is the top all-around player for this Yukon squad. He’s a true middle-of-the-order type bat that’ll slot right into that role for head coach Kevin James’ offense and they’ll turn to him for valuable offensive contributions all season long. He’ll also hop on the mound and give this team quality innings, pumping his fastball in the high-80s range, touching 90 at the OK Underclass Prospect Games last summer - all while showing legit feel to spin a 2,400+ RPM slider. Committed to Oklahoma State, Benge will be a huge part of Yukon's success throughout the spring.
Carson Lee, C, 2021, Eastern Oklahoma State JC commit
Captaining this ship behind the plate is Lee, a former PBR Future Gamer that’s one of the top-ranked backstops in the state’s 2021 class. He’s built at an athletic 6-foot, 185-pounds with excellent defensive feel from the crouch, showcasing some of the top catch-and-throw skills in the state and an above-average arm to pair. With experience under his belt, Lee will be tasked with navigating this pitching staff throughout the season, all while being asked to provide valuable offensive contributions, too.
Working up the middle for Yukon is one of the state’s top uncommitted seniors in Flow. Though we’ve normally seen him flash the leather on the infield defensively, Flow will see reps in the outfield this spring for Yukon, as well as on the mound. His experience as a returning player will be another valuable asset that he brings to the table.
Josh Holston, RHP/1B, 2021
Holston is another name-to-know senior on this Yukon squad. He’ll team up with several other names on this list as one of Yukon’s more reliable and experienced arms while also seeing some time at first base when he’s not on the mound.
It has been a while since we have got to lay eyes on Owens. We last saw him at the beginning of 2020 as a projectable and skilled infielder who showed signs of emerging as a high end prospect to follow at the OK Preseason All-State Showcase.
OUTLOOK
STRENGTHS: Yukon feels, internally, that their biggest strength is what they can do defensively, especially with key members like Benge, Lee, and Flow locking down key positions for them.
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Only four starters return for this Yukon team, meaning that a handful of inexperienced players will be thrust into key positions for them throughout the 2021 season.
Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.