When Sooner State Baseball Report started last year, we tried to find different and fun content about baseball in the Sooner State that we thought people would enjoy. One of the ways we did that was to start ranking the 30 different college teams in the state. And that’s how the Power 10 was “born.”
Each week until the postseason, we will rank, what we think, are the 10 best teams in the state relative to their level. We will look at the results of each team based on the level of their competition compared to the other teams in the state.
Does that mean if a junior college team is ranked ahead of an NCAA D1 team we think that JUCO would be the D1? No it doesn’t. But it does mean we think that the JUCO team is playing better than the D1 at their respective levels.
We’ve now had 2 full weeks (and a 3rd for some teams) and it is time to get to it. Here is where we think things stand right now.
Please remember this is for fun and should be treated as such.
*OU, OSU, and ORU don’t start play until this weekend so they aren’t eligible for this week’s rankings.
Teams Just Missing the Top 10
- USAO Drovers (5-3), NAIA
- Western OK State (3-1), NJCAA D2
These 2 traditional powers in Oklahoma were strongly considered for this week’s rankings, but 1 factor for each squad kept them out. For USAO it came down quality wins vs another team and the Drovers just came up short. Considering WOSC, they just haven’t played as many games to see what they’ve got compared to the others yet plus they gave up 33 runs in a 4 game series (yikes).
#10 MACU Evangels (4-4), NAIA
The Evangels are the other team that USAO was considered with and when looking at their record (4-4) it is obviously not as impressive as MACU (nor Southwestern Christian who is also at 5-3). However, what put MACU in the top 10 was their strength of schedule and the quality of wins they have.
MACU split a pair of games to open the season with preseason #5 LSU Shreveport. Then they lost 3 of 4 to Houston Victoria, but HVU looks to be a solid team sitting with a record at 7-1. This past weekend, the Evangels traveled to Sterlington, LA to play in the Cajun Collision. Because of weather, they opened play on Friday at 9:30 a.m. and beat a good Georgetown College team before immediately playing a top 10 team in Missouri Baptist and winning that game handily.
MACU is the only team in the state that has 2 – top 10 wins so far on the season. Even if your record is .500 after 8 games, that should get you in a “Power 10.”
#9 NOC Enid Jets (7-1), NJCAA D2
The Jets opened the season on the road against Southeast Arkansas for a 4 game series. They were literally in unchartered territory as this was SEARK’s first ever season. It was no problem for the Jets as they swept the Sharks 4-0.
NOC Enid actually started the season with 7 straight wins as they took the first 3 games in their home opening series vs Northeast CC (Neb) before they dropped the 4th game for their first loss of the season.
Other than the loss, I’d say it’s been a pretty good start in Enid for new head coach, Ryan Bay.
The highlight of the weekend was the walk off 3 run homer by Bethany product, Cale Wetwiska.
#8 NOC Tonkawa Mavericks (7-1), NJCAA D2
New Mavericks head coach, Michael Keeran may have the most impressive offense so far this young season.
The Mavs opened the season hosting Iowa Lakes CC, a team that received votes in the preseason poll. All the Mavs did was outscore the Lakers by an average of 11.50-2.75 per game in the 4 game sweep.
After a midweek loss to Dallas-Brookhaven, the Mavs were at it again in a 3 game sweep of Hesston College. All they did was sweep the series with scores of 30-6, 22-2, 20-2 along with hitting 9 bombs over the weekend.
#7 Southeast Oklahoma State Savage Storm (6-1), NCAA D2
The Savage Storm is another team that looks impressive at the plate. In their 6 wins, SEOSU has scored at least 10 runs 5 times. They got the opening weekend sweep over Colorado-Colorado Springs and the 2nd weekend sweep over Newman University.
Northeastern State tripped up the Storm in a midweek game last Tuesday in Durant. SEOSU looks for payback on Tuesday in Tahlequah.
#6 Southwest Oklahoma State Bulldogs (7-2), NCAA D2
After not appearing in the Power 10 in 2023, the Bulldogs make the inaugural 2024 ranking. Yes, SWOSU may have a 2nd loss that only 3 of the 10 teams in the rankings have, but they have a win over a ranked opponent.
The Bulldogs alternated wins on opening weekend with Missouri Western, but on Tuesday of last week when #23 Missouri Southern came to Weatherford, the Bulldogs walked away with 7-4 victory on what was truly a “bullpen day.” SWOSU used 9 different pitchers to keep the Lions in check.
SWOSU swept Adams State in a 4 game series this weekend to go 5-0 on the week.
5. Connors State Cowboys (6-0), NJCAA D1
The Cowboys are not strangers to the Power 10 as they were in each ranking in 2023 while being the #1 team for most of the season (Oral Roberts finished 1st in the last ranking).
Perry Keith looks to have another top team again as the Cowboys went 6-0 in their opening week. The highlight of the week is the double header sweep of traditional NJCAA D2 power, Murray State on Saturday.
4. Northwest Oklahoma State (7-1), NCAA D2
The Rangers are the 2nd team that didn’t appear in the Power 10 in 2023 to enter this year’s rankings in the first week.
Coach Ryan Bowen and his squad have had a special first 2 weeks in Alva. Two of their three wins the first weekend came via walk after being down multiple runs. This past weekend, the Rangers came back in the game 1 of their series vs Truman State down 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th to walk it off with a grand slam by Theron Perkins.
The Rangers added a midweek win over Newman to go 5-0 on the week.
#3 Oklahoma City Stars (8-2), NAIA
The start to the 2024 season is completely different for the Stars than it was in 2023. OCU was 15-15 after 30 games in 2023 before going 17-6 the rest of the way including winning the SAC Tournament and making the NAIA Opening Round.
The Stars started the season with 8 straight wins including a victory over preseason #7 Bellevue. They dropped their last 2 this past Friday to Bellevue and Concordia (Neb).
OCU also has 3 walk offs on the year like NWOSU.
#2 Oklahoma Baptist Bison (6-1), NCAA D2
Coming into the season, the Bison were arguably the highest rated NCAA D2 school in the Sooner State. They were picked #4 in the tough Great American Conference and that #4 rating was the highest of any NCAA D2 school in a conference preseason poll.
OBU has lived up to that billing so far through the first 2 weeks. The Bison are averaging over 11 runs per game. There has been a power surge on Bison Hill as they have 13 home runs as a team and a slugging pct of .582 (their team OPS is 1.034).
Senior, Alex Schroeder has 4 HRs already, but it was the 3rd one that put him in the Bison record books.
#1 University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos (8-0), NCAA D2
In a rankings full of NCAA D2 schools, UCO is the one that stands out just a little above the rest. The Bronchos are the only team that has 8 wins and is undefeated. On top of that, they have arguably the best win of the D2 season so far in the Sooner State by beating OBU 6-3 on the opening weekend (we see you, SWOSU).
It is how they are doing it that is somewhat different than other schools. Through the first 2 weeks, the ‘Chos are getting it done on the mound. Here is what was said bout them in this week’s “Five Things You Should Know.”
How the ‘Chos are doing it through the first two weeks is intriguing to say the least. In a sport that seems to be turning more and more offensive, UCO has gotten it done on the mound. Through 8 games, UCO has a team ERA of 2.11 and a team WHIP of 1.08. In 64 cumulative innings pitched, the Bronchos have given up only 45 hits against 72 Ks and only 24 BB.
The 4 starting pitchers: Dax Sharp, Brett Pense, Caleb Burchfield, and Preston Giltner have a cumulative ERA of 1.29 (!) against 40 Ks, 10 BB, and only 25 hits.
Impressive.
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