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PBR OK OSSAA Team Previews: Enid Plainsmen

January 20, 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.

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Team: Enid Plainsmen
2022 Record: 25-10
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Brad Gore
Years at the Helm: 7

OUTLOOK

 2022 was a banner year for Coach Gore and the Plainsmen as they broke through to the 6A State Tournament for the first time since 2009.  They were able to get through a tough matchup in the Sand Springs Regional thanks to multiple guys on the roster stepping up and having banner games.  The bulk of that roster is returning in 2023 and with the high end impact guys they'll put on the field makes them a true contender for another run to the State Tournament.  The lineup is well-balanced with speed and power guys sprinkled in including a couple of players that have both and they play well-rounded defense all of the diamond.  They'll need to rely on their experience that they've gained by having their players playing on the Varsity level at early stages in their high school careers.  They have the front-end pitching to go toe-to-toe with the State's best at the district level.  Getting the arms without the Varsity experience up to speed early will be a large determining factor to the Plainsmen's overall success this year.  With the high-end talent and a roster that largely contributed to their impressive run in 2022, look for the Plainsmen to make some noise on the circuit in 2023 and it wouldn't be surprising to see them take another step this Spring.

IMPACT PLAYERS

 Garrett Shull, UTL, 2024, Oklahoma State Commit

Shull has been a name that's been known since before he even stepped foot on a high school diamond and has lived up to the hype in his first two years on the scene for Enid.  The switch-hitting utility man currently ranks as the top player in the state for the 2024 class and is number 12 overall nationally.  He shows a rare combination of size, speed, and power that shows up not just in workouts but more importantly during games.  He is one of the most balanced switch hitters in the country regardless of age and class and can handle both sides of the plate without showing weakness.  He's also proven to be a dynamic base runner with the ability to swipe bags  when he needs to making him a very tough matchup for opposing staffs.  He has also shown some positional versatility throughout his high school career manning short stop as well as tracking balls down in center field.  If Shull continues to make strides in taking what the pitchers give him as well as getting some protection in front and behind him in the lineup, look for him to continue to break records and be the leader in a potent offense for the Plainsmen in 2023.

 

 

Jake Kennedy, RHP, 2023, Cowley County commit

Kennedy has the throw back sinker slider combination and a feel for a fading change up that allows him to attack hitters from both sides of the plate and miss barrels repeatably.  The Cowley commit has worked the fastball in the mid to upper 80's in the past and has shown the ability to pound away at the arm side of the plate.  In multiple times that we saw him in 2022 he handled pressure, weather elements, and strong offenses each time out giving him all the qualities teams are looking for in a future Ace of the staff.  With his ability to manipulate the ball, look for Enid to be a really tough out on the nights where he takes the mound in 2023.

 

 

McCage Hartling, C, 2024

The junior catcher Hartling returns as the starting back stop for the Plainsmen in 2023.  Hartling is counted on in multiple facets for the Enid as he also handles middle of the order duties and providing protection to Shull in the lineup.  The left-handed hitter has a simple and short stroke with a strong use of the lower half in the swing and has shown the ability to drive the ball into the gaps and for an occasional homer.  His line drive approach and flat swing helps with cutting down on the swing and miss and with his bat path should be able to handle plus velocity.  Defensively he shines with a solid arm and quick exchange and feel for receiving and blocking giving the pitching staff options especially with two strikes.  Manning the catching position as well as middle of the order responsibilities can be a challenge, but it is one that he's shown the ability to handle in the past and will be heavily relied upon on both sides of the ball in 2023.

 

 

Seth Carlson, UTL/RHP, 2024

Carlson is another returning impact player off of last year's squad that will look to not only expand his role on both sides of the ball but also be counted on to provide a larger chunk of the production.  He's another Plainsmen that has a unique combination of power and athleticism that will show up in workouts and getting those tools to show up this Spring will be a large contributing factor to how deep the Plainsmen will be on both the mound and in the lineup.  Offensively he has the hand strength for balls to jump off the barrel and should project for more power in the future as he continues to gain experience.  On the mound is where he might see his biggest impact where he's beginning to make jumps with his velocity and stuff and should be counted on more to take more impactful innings in 2023.  If the tools begin to matchup with production on a more consistent basis in 2023, look for Carlson to be one of the bigger outbreak type players this upcoming spring.

 

 

 

 

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Whaetly Chaloupek, 2025, C/RHP

Dallas Goodpasture, 2023, LHP/OF

 

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

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