OSSAA 2A State Tournament Preview
May 11, 2022
The State Tournament is finally upon us as we look to see who stands atop 2A later this week. The 2A field is very strong this year with 7 teams that are ranked in the top OSSAA 2A rankings making the field. Almost every team in the field this year in 2A has easily handled their 2A opponents throughout the year and also taken down some of the better teams in the higher classes making this tournament a true toss up to see who takes home the Title at Shawnee High School on Saturday at 2 o'clock. We take a deeper dive into each team's season as well as players to keep an eye on throughout the State Tournament.
Be sure to follow us on twitter @PBR_Oklahoma for updates from 2A and all the other State tournaments this week.
SILO REBELS
OVERALL RECORD: 27-0
RECORD AGAINST STATE COMPETITION: 1-0
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kyler Proctor, INF/RHP, 2023, OSU commit
Easton Ford, INF/P, 2023
Delton Roberts, INF/P, 2023
Josh Trout, C/RHP, 2023
Sawyer Reddick, UTL, 2023
Carter Parker, INF/RHP, 2023
Coach Bowen's Rebels are the only remaining undefeated squad across the State amassing an impressive 27-0 record winning games in every class except 6A, as they try to repeat as champions from the 2021 Spring. They finished the regular season as the 14th ranked team in the State in the Power 25 showing their prowess and ability against even some of the larger competition. With the Rebels is all comes down to their pitching and ability to limit opponents having given up 3 runs or less in 25 of their 27 games and 11 games of shutouts on the year. They have exciting young talent on both sides of the ball with a mostly heavy junior class and a group of guys that have done a lot of winning in their high school careers. If they high level of pitching remains and guys continue to pick up key hits like they did in last year's State Tournament, then the Rebels will be pushing hard for another Title.
CALERA BULLDOGS
OVERALL RECORD: 16-10
RECORD AGAINST STATE OPPONENTS: 0-2
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nakni Anna, OF/P, 2023
Colt Weaver, INF, 2023
Clayton Francis, UTL, 2023
Jeffrey Sweeney, INF/RHP, 2023
Kaden Huddleston, INF
Coach Teafatiler's Bulldogs enter the postseason playing their best baseball of the season winning 5 postseason games to get to this point including an upset over Wister to make it to the State Tournament. They have a roster full of Juniors that have shown the ability to step up in crucial situations including holding Wister to only 2 hits on Monday to punch their ticket into the State Tournament. Having only played ten games against other 2A schools and winning 7 out of those 10 shows they are fully capable of handling teams in their class and did take their first round matchup Silo to the break allowing runs in only one inning and putting up zeros the rest of the game. They will need to keep getting that quality starting pitching as well as some timely hits this week if they want to make a run at a State Championship on Saturday.
CASHION WILDCATS
OVERALL RECORD: 24-5
RECORD AGAINST STATE OPPONENTS: 1-1
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Landon Lagasse, OF, 2022
Cooper Frazze, SS/RHP, 2024
Preston Cotter, INF, 2023
Joey Wilson, P/1B, 2022
Dereck Sheline, INF, 2024
Coach Mounce's Wildcats have cruised through 2A with going 11-1 and one against that level of competition on the backs of one of the better offenses in 2A. They swept through regional play winning all five games by a combined score of 49-8 and have scored in double digits in 15 of their 29 contests. They have also shown the ability to win close games this season showing they are battle tested for going against the best in 2A this week. They previously played their round one opponent Amber-Pocasset just a few weeks ago losing that contest 4-1 but since that contest they have won 9 of their last 11 games. They will need to keep the bats rolling at a high level and get some arms to step up and put up zeros on the scoreboard in order to be crowned champion at the end of the week.
AMBER-POCASSET PANTHERS
OVERALL RECORD: 25-6
RECORD AGAINST STATE OPPONENTS: 2-0
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kyle Williams, INF, 2022
Jared Jones, UTL, 2023
Sean Tallent, OF, 2022
Hayden Brown, 1B/P, 2024
Brayden Bingham, INF/P, 2022
Tyler Shaw, INF, 2024
Coach Graham's Panthers had to get to the State Tournament the hard way dropping their first 2A game all season in the Regional against Haskell in a 2-1 ball game and then won three straight to punch their ticket into the State Tournament. They went 15-1 against other 2A opponents on the backs of very good pitching that saw them give up 2 runs or less in 16 contests. Since the Month of April the Panthers have been hot winning 16 of 18 games giving them some serious momentum headed into the State Tournament. If they can continue to get high level pitching and keep getting clutch hits they have a real chance at being the last team standing on Saturday.
DALE PIRATES
OVERALL RECORD: 22-9
RECORD AGAINST STATE OPPONENTS: 0-2
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Dayton Forsythe, SS/RHP, 2024
Connor Kuykendall, INF/RHP, 2022
Tate Rector, OF/P, 2023
Kash VanBrunt, INF/RHP
Ethan Douglas, C/RHP, 2024
Coach Jeffcoat's Pirates are battle tested heading into this week's State Tournament playing one of the tougher schedules across 2A this year. They only played 7 games against 2A competition and played 12 games against teams at a higher class than them winning 6 of them and taking some of the better teams in the state to the wire. They easily swept through the regional play with the bats completely on fire right now. They have scored 98 runs in their last 6 games thanks to one of the more physical lineups in 2A and have also gotten some good pitching down the stretch. It would not be a surprise to see the bats stay hot throughout the week and if they can continue to get good pitching down the stretch than they should be considered a real contender to take home the Title on Saturday.
MORRISON WILDCATS
OVERALL RECORD: 25-8
RECORD AGAINST STATE OPPONENTS: 0-1
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Taten Rupp, SS/RHP, 2022
Kasey Rupp, INF/RHP, 2024
Brody Roe, OF/P, 2022
Briggs Roe, INF/P, 2024
Kale McCosar, P/OF, 2024
Coach Brigg's Wildcats have cruised into the State Tournament winning all five games by a combined score of 69-1. They have put themselves into position thanks to a very challenging schedule to be ready for the tense moments a State Tournament can bring by playing 6 teams in higher classes that have made their respective State tournaments including a win over 5A's Carl Albert back in early April. Picking up 10 wins against teams in a higher class show the type of strength the roster has and how much confidence they play with. Right now both sides of the ball are working on all cylinders and they will want to keep that up and carry that momentum into a deep run this week.
LATTA PANTHERS
OVERALL RECORD: 20-8
RECORD AGAINST STATE OPPONENTS: 1-0
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tucker Abney, SS/RHP, 2022
Carson Abbot, 1B, 2024
Jackson Presley, C, 2023
Cooper Hamilton, OF, 2022
Kale Williams, OF, 2022
Landon Wolfe, INF/P, 2024
Jake LaMack, INF/P, 2025
Coach Atkinson's Panthers enter the State Tournament showing a knack for getting it done late in games with two walk-offs in the Regionals this past week with the final sac fly in the 8th inning to take down Hartshorne 10-9 and send them to State. They have had an unblemished record in 2A throughout the year winning all 7 games against their level of competition and picked up 8 total wins against teams in a higher class. We missed out on a preview of their opening round match up against Oktaha with a rainout on the final day of the regular season which would have given us a good indication of where this game might go. That being said, the Panthers have a ton of confidence heading into this week's State Tournament knowing that they have had some guys clutch up when it matters most and will need more clutch hits like they got last week to make a run to Saturday.
OKTAHA TIGERS
OVERALL RECORD: 28-7
RECORD AGAINST STATE OPPONENTS: 1-0
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Gabe Hamilton, SS/RHP, 2022
Maddox Edwards, INF/RHP, 2024
Darren Ledford, C, 2025
Mason Ledford, INF, 2022
Tucker Christian, C, 2022
Tyler Allen, INF/RHP, 2023
Coach Rodden has put the Tigers in great position to make a run this week thanks to one of the toughest schedules in the State. Oktaha isn't afraid to jump in with the big boys in the state and they saw an impressive 14-6 record against teams from a higher class to go along with their undefeated 11-0 record against 2A competition. They have some of the better power bats in their lineup that bring a physicality to the order and have been getting strong pitching down the stretch. They have outscored their opponents 69-2 in the postseason so far with four of the five games being in shutout fashion. They have shown the ability to handle good pitching and compete at this highest level in the State all year and should be primed to be a real contender to take home the Title later this week.
STATE TOURNAMENT COVERAGE