It’s hard to believe that the 2023 Fall Baseball Season is almost upon us, but that is the case as August 7 is the official start of the regular season.

Here at Sooner State Baseball Report it is our goal to provide as much coverage as we can. One way we are trying to do that is preview as many teams as we can before the start of the season.

We’ve sent out a questionnaire to many of the teams that play fall ball in hope that they will give us an honest outlook on their upcoming season. We’ve had a few responses so far.

Today’s team: Latta Panthers

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Team: Latta Panthers

Class: A

Fall 2022 Record

15-18

Spring 2023 Record

20-13

Head Coach:

Dillon Atkinson

Head Coach Experience:

4 years (3 at Latta)

Returning Starters and Top Players

Latta will be returning several starters from 2022-2023. The Panthers return 7 starters, but their talent doesn’t stop with those 7.

Holden Lee (OF) is described as the catalyst of Latta’s offense. Hunter Price (OF/1B) is a big bat who has been in several big games and will be relied upon in the Fall. Reese Littlefield (OF) is someone the Panthers are counting on to drive in runs to go along with his athletic defense. Deakon Smith (3B) is a versatile infielder who has gap to gap power.

In the field, the Panthers are strong up the middle. Landon Wolfe provides the veteran presence in the field and is the leader of their defense playing shortstop. Kaleb Goodwin is another athletic infielder with veteran presence as he has a knack for the big moments.

On the mound, the Panthers have a couple of anchors on the staff. Jake LaMack has pitched in several big games for the Latta and Gestin Pollard is a young arm that should provide some big innings. Darien Miller is another pitcher the Panthers will look to.

Of course a pitching staff isn’t complete without it’s battery mate and the Panthers have Landon Fortner who will provide a strong competitiveness behind the dish.

Outlook

The Panthers return several players and should be one of the more experienced teams on the diamond this fall. Latta’s strength is in it’s pitching and defense. It is safe to say that the Latta Panthers are good enough to make a run at the state tournament.

Schedule