OSSAA 6A Regional Preview: Union Regional
April 29, 2024
The Union Regional kicks off Tuesday April 30th featuring one of our most evenly matched regionals across all of 6A. The Redhawks, Sandites, and Bruins will be looking to win their way back to the State Tournament with Bishop Kelley looking to make it for the first time after moving up to 6A this spring. We breakdown each team's record, players to watch, and a deeper look at each team as they head into this week's regional and try to make it to the state tournament next week.
TUESDAY'S SCHEDULE
Union vs Bartlesville at 11:00 am
Sand Springs vs Bishop Kelley at 1:30 pm
Winner's Bracket game at 4:00 pm
Loser's Bracket game at 6:30 pm
UNION REDHAWKS
OVERALL RECORD: 20-14
DISTRICT RECORD: 10-4
POWER 25 WINS: 7
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Camden Knutson, 2024, MIF/RHP, NOC Tonkawa commit
Gamaliel Jones, 2024, OF, Angelo State commit
Dylan Baldridge, 2024, UTL, Murray State commit
Stephen Pattison, 2024, C, Uncommitted
Ben Flusche, 2024, OF, Uncommitted
Armando Gomez, 2025, RHP, Uncommitted
Alex Woods, 2024, RHP, Uncommitted
Braylon Danzy, 2024, OF, NSU Football commit
Cody Young, 2026, MIF, Uncommitted
Zac Oliver, 2026, INF, Uncommitted
Coach Newkirk and the Redhawks earned their right to host after an impressive sweep of Bixby later in the season and amassing and impressive 10-4 record in what what one of the tougher districts across 6A this year. They rely heavily on the upperclassmen in the lineup with their first 7 hitters in the lineup on most days all being from the senior class. They have one of the top table setters and base stealers at the top of the order in Gam Jones followed by proven productive hitters in Knutson, Flusche, and Baldridge. Pattison and Danzy have also made names for themselves throughout the 2024 season in their first crack at everyday roles and they are getting some production out of the two sophomores at the bottom of the order in Young and Oliver. The calling card for the Redhawks is their ability to defend at a high level as well as put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses thanks to their big speed. On the mound they have had two arms step up and take on larger roles down the stretch with Gomez turning into a front line guy and Woods picking up big innings the past couple of weeks. Those two with Knutson give the Redhawks a chance against anyone in the state and they will need to add as many runs as possible later in games to protect a thinner bullpen to make it onto next week.
SAND SPRINGS SANDITES
OVERALL RECORD: 24-11
DISTRICT RECORD: 9-5
POWER 25 WINS: 7
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Eli Buxton, 2024, RHP, Arizona State commit
Easton Webb, 2026, OF/RHP, OSU commit
Jace Arnold, 2024, RHP/INF, Allen County commit
Keaton Campbell, 2024, OF/LHP, Cowley County commit
Jackson Turney, 2026, 1B, Uncommitted
Miller Tavaglione, 2024, OF/LHP, Allen County commit
Wyatt Rutledge, 2024, MIF/RHP, NOC Enid commit
Alex Dudley, 2026, MIF, Uncommitted
Coach Brown and the Sandites come in to this year’s regional play with an experienced roster and real firepower on the mound. The Sandites’ 2024 campaign has certainly had its highs and lows and has a tendency to be a little streaky. When everything is working together, the Sandites have one of the tougher teams to put away thanks to a lineup that can stretch fairly deep with a strong mix of physical and speed guys. Where they have the advantage in this regional is their high end power arms at the top of the rotation. Buxton and Webb can both easily work in the low to mid 90’s and have proven over the course of their career to miss bats in a hurry. Rutledge has been a nice surprise for the Sandites this year with his work on the mound at the end of games. He has also shown higher end abilities with the bat and on defense, but he gives them a true swing and miss closer at the end of games that could be the key to pushing them through the regionals after coming so close to making the state tournament the past couple of years.
BISHOP KELLEY COMETS
OVERALL RECORD: 13-19
DISTRICT RECORD: 5-9
POWER 25 WINS: 3
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tanner McMurray, 2024, UTL/RHP, Oral Roberts commit
Spence Perry, 2024, C, Uncommitted
Eli Enzbrenner, 2026, INF, Uncommitted
Nick Modovsky, 2025, INF, Uncommitted
Reid Jones, 2024, 1B, UCA Football commit
Tycen Armour, 2025, OF/RHP, Uncommitted
Mason Gooding, 2024, RHP, Eastern Ok State commit
Blake Rogers, 2025, OF/RHP, Uncommitted
Ikie Gleeson, 2024, OF, National Park College commit
It’s been a rockier ride for the Comets and head coach Parker Frazier in their first run at the 6A level in 2024. After a run to the 5A state championship game last year, the Comets returned quite a few contributors that have postseason success that should be pivotal as they look to win their way through the regional this week. The record might not be the complete story with the Comets as they have had to battle injuries to impact guys throughout the season and might finally be putting together their best lineup at the end of the season. Leading the way for the Comets is their do-everything senior in Tanner McMurray who provides a steady presence in the middle of the lineup and in the middle of the diamond. Spence Perry has been a nice surprise with the bat and has also shown improved defensive actions behind the plate. The Comets have been able to work a plethora of their players into the lineup throughout the year as they try to mix and match as well as plug holes due to injury. On the mound they can turn to a couple of different arms to pick up starts in the regional with multiple guys having starts throughout the year. The Comets will look to rely on their previous postseason experience as well as turn to some of the more physically talented players in this regional to try and catch some momentum and win their way to the state tournament next week.
BARTLESVILLE BRUINS
OVERALL RECORD: 12-20
DISTRICT RECORD: 4-10
POWER 25 WINS: 1
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brendan Asher, 2024, MIF/RHP, Oral Roberts commit
Barrett Merciez, 2026, INF/RHP, Uncommitted
Grant Clark, 2024, OF/P, Uncommitted
Brett Eaves, 2024, INF, Uncommitted
Jaxon Zaun, 2025, C, Uncommitted
Samuel Marcella, 2026, INF/RHP, Uncommitted
Coach Price and the Bruins enter the 2024 postseason with the hopes of getting hot like they did in the Union Regional in 2023 that saw them make it the regional finals before bowing out against Owasso. They have a strong mix of experienced seniors and some underclassmen that have taken on larger roles throughout the season and have shown the ability to hang with some of the top programs in the state. With their strength of schedule and knack for playing close games, the 12-20 record doesn’t tell the whole story with them with 5 of their losses coming in one run fashion. They have pushed numerous potential title contenders to the brink throughout the year and they have one of the top arms in the 2024 class in Brendan Asher giving them a puncher’s chance against anyone. Asher has had a few ups and downs on the mound this season but appears to be pitching his best down the stretch working deeper into games and picking up strikeouts in a hurry. With Asher on the mound and their experience of playing close games, don’t count out the Bruins to be a tough out this week and they should not be taken lightly regardless of their record.