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PBR OK OSSAA Team Previews: Bixby Spartans

February 21, 2023
Scott Hood
OK/MO/KS/ARK Assistant Scouting Director

The Oklahoma high school baseball season kicks off on Feb. 20th for A-B, and March 1st for 2A-6A. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2023 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Oklahoma Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

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 as well as our own coverage on players in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Bixby Spartans Football Schedule 2020 - Discover Tulsa

 

Team: Bixby Spartans
2022 Record: 33-8
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Justin Delay
Years at the Helm: 3

OUTLOOK

Coach Delay's Spartans returns one of the most talented rosters in 2023 after a run that fell short in the State Tournament in 2022 in a hard fought 8-9 loss to Westmoore.  As tough as the early exit was for Bixby, the Spartans return multiple impact players that have a ton of Varsity experience that make them one of the top contenders for the State Championship in 2023.  The have few holes to fill from their roster last year such as replacing everyday shortstop Barrick Leu and arms Cole Abbot and Kaden Wright.  The Spartans will look to fill these holes with some up and coming prospects that got their feet wet at the Varsity level last year and will need to get up to speed quickly thanks to a tough early schedule.  The pitching staff features multiple arms that could be used as district game starters as well as some depth into their bullpen.  The lineup has a nice blend of speed and power with some high contact hitters sprinkled in the mix.  1-9 they will be able to attack opposing pitching staffs in multiple ways but maybe most importantly with their ability to leave the yard with some of the more premiere power bats in the state.  They have a ton of positional versatility and rangy defenders that should make them one of the better defensive lineups as well.  With the star-studded roster and amount of experience returning in 2023, look for the Spartans to be one of the early front-runners for the 6A Title as they will be a very tough challenge for opponents in all three phases of the game.

 

IMPACT PLAYERS

Maxwell Knight, LHP/OF/1B, 2023, Oklahoma State Commit

Knight can impact the game in multiple ways but where he might bring his most value is at the plate where last year in his junior year the left-handed hitter belted 15 homers.  Knight has great leverage at the plate and shows the ability to leave the yard to all fields showing some of the most opposite field power in the state.  Knight has a smooth stroke that keeps the barrel in the zone a long time and the ball jumps off the barrel at ease.  He can provide some positional versatility with his ability to play all three outfield positions as well as first base if needed.  On the mound Knight checks in as one of the top arms in the state as well with the fastball working in the upper 80's and the ability to reach the low 90's at times.  He pairs the fastball with a tight spinning slider that turned some heads at this past month's Super 60.  With Knight's ability to not only take over games on the mound as well as at the plate, the Spartans will rely on him to provide a big bulk of the offense as well as eat some of the more important innings throughout the year.

 

 

 

Cooper Moore, C/INF/RHP, 2023, Kansas Commit

Moore burst onto the scene in his sophomore campaign as one of the top catch and throw guys in the country from behind the plate and has continued to add to his game ever since.  Defensively Moore shows excellent flexibility and pitch framing skills and has shown the ability to erase would-be base stealers at ease.  His throws have advanced carry to the bag with a quick release and big-time arm strength.  At the plate Moore has strong barrel control that allows him to collect hits in bunches using his level path and line drive approach.  He has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields as well as show strong plate discipline never taking swings out of control.  Where he might have seen his biggest jump in recent years is on the mound where he has shown the ability to work the fastball in the low 90's with heavy sink and a well-shaped breaking ball that he can land in the zone.  When Moore is dialed in on the mound he is one of the toughest guys to barrel in the state.

 

 

 

 

Jack Williams, OF/RHP, 2023, Hillsborough CC commit

Williams is one of the most gifted athletes in the state with arguably the best power/speed combo.  Williams has light-tower power with his strong rotational swing and balls easily jump off the barrel.  In the past 12 months we've seen some of the most impressive homers coming from Williams' bat that leave the yard in a hurry.  He also is a strong runner that allows him to cover a ton of ground in the outfield and enough arm strength to make baserunners think twice about testing him.  Williams will also work as the closer for the Spartans in 2023 as he uses his arm strength to pump fastballs in the upper 80's and low 90's.  Opposing staffs will need to tread carefully around Williams as any mistake can turn into runs in a hurry.

 

 

Owen Bailor, 1B/LHP, 2023, ORU commit

Bailor had a breakout campaign both on the mound the and at the plate for the Spartans in 2022 and will look to continue to expand his role this upcoming spring.  Bailor has a large and physical frame but has shown the ability to handle the bat and provides a strong run-producing force in the middle of the lineup.  Where he might show his most value is on the mound where the big left-hander shows strong pitchability working in the mid 80's and a strong three pitch mix.  He creates tough angles on hitters with the ball coming in on hitters quicker than the velocity might suggest and his ability to spin the breaking ball makes him a tough matchup to left-handed hitters especially.

 

 

 

 

Nathan Murphy, INF/C/RHP, 2023

Murphy has been a mainstay in the Spartan lineup over the past couple of years and provides them some positional versatility with his ability to play both the hot corner as well as work behind the plate.  Murphy has very quick hands and shows some pull side power that makes him a candidate to leave the yard at any time.  Behind the plate he has shown improved skills with a very quick release and throws showing big carry to the bag.  He's also shown some improvement on the mound where he will also log some innings for the Spartans and has been in the upper 80's and touching 90 mph.  Murphy remains uncommitted and will be worth a follow for programs throughout the spring.

 

 

 

Brian Justice, INF/RHP, 2025

With a roster loaded with upperclassmen talent, Justice has the type of talent that can make an immediate impact at the Varsity level especially on the mound.  Justice has one of the better three pitch mixes in the class with the fastball working into the mid to upper 80's and tight spin rates on well-shaped curveball.  The pitch that might be the equalizer is his advanced changeup with very heavy fading action that gives him a starter profile for the future.  As a position player he shows strong athleticism and defensive actions that should only continue to improve as he continues to add experience to his game.

 

 

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Connor Kirby, OF, 2023, UCO Football commit

Grayson Connell, RHP, 2023

Carson Miller, UTL, 2023

Jake Wolfinbarger, INF, 2023

Cord Nolan, OF, 2026

 


Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2023 season.

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