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: Canute Trojans

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Team: Canute Trojans

Class: A

Fall 2022 Record

29-8 (State Tournament)

Spring 2023 Record

23-7 (State Tournament)

Head Coach:

Bobby Blackburn

Head Coach Experience:

35 years (1st at Canute)

Returning Starters and Top Players

Conventional wisdom is a good baseball team is built up the middle. With 4 of the 5 returning starters for the Trojans at catcher, shortstop, second base, and center field, that is what Canute has (the other starter is in left field). Because of that the Trojans will be stout on defense.

Canute will be led on the field by Jake Beutler and Lane Greteman. The left handed Beutler will be roaming center field when he isn’t pitching. The right handed Greteman is a utility guy that can play anywhere on the field depending who is pitching (when it isn’t him).

Outlook

Canute has traditionally been one of the best teams in small school baseball. It will be interesting to see what Coach Blackburn will add to Canute. Blackburn has 667 career wins as a head coach so I’m sure they will do fine.

The Trojans will need to replace more of their lineup than other state tournament contenders, but with their pitching and defense along with Blackburn’s philosophy of “getting better ever game,” the Trojans are a state tournament contender.

Schedule

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