It’s hard to believe that the 2024 Fall Baseball Season is almost upon us, but that is the case as August 12 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: Rattan Rams

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Team Facts

Class: A

Fall 2023 Record: 31-4 (Class A State Champions)

Spring 2024 Record: 28-6 (Class A State Tournament Qualifier)

Head Coach: Michael Clay

Head Coaching Experience: 21 years (10 at Rattan)

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Returning Starters and Top Players

The Rams have a strong group returning (7 starters) from a teams that won the Class A Fall State Championship and were state qualifiers in the Spring last year.

They are led by “one of the most talented did to ever play at Rattan” according to Coach Clay in Ben Ellis. He is a shortstop who is also one of the Rams’ top pitchers. He will be leading off.

James Childers is a tremendous athlete who can play shortstop an pitch.

Kooper Johnson is a CF/3B with a “ton of power” from the left side and will also be one of Rattan’s top arms.

Shane Cody is a ’27 grad who is behind the plate as catcher. He also comes out to the mound to pitch for the Rams. He batted in the clean up spot last year as a freshman. Coach Clay says he’s “looking for a big year from him.”

Keller Shockey is another pitcher, but when he’s not pitching he plays 1B. He’s a middle of the lineup guy who has had some big hits for the Rams in his career.

Kobe Tabor is a great athlete who was an infielder, but was switched to the outfield as a freshman due to need. Coach Clay says Tabor has “turned into a great outfielder like all good athletes do.”

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Team Outlook

Looking at their team, the Rams don’t have any glaring weaknesses. In fact, their lineup is so good, Coach Clay says, “I would put my lineup up against anyone.” Clay also says his top 3 pitchers will be “better than most, if not all.” The Rams also intend to put pressure on their opponents with their above average team speed and they will have a good athlete at every position in the field defensively.

Rattan is once again a state title contender. They have a ton of talent coming back that won 59 out of 69 games in the 2023-2024 school year. When they are on, they are on. The Rams had long winning streaks in both the fall and spring last year so they know how to win.

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Schedule

Looking at their schedule, Rattan has one of the toughest around. They play in the Dale and Oktaha tournaments the first two weekends of the season. Those two tournaments have several top teams from each class. The Rams will host their own tournament later in the season that will have top teams as well.

On top of those tournaments, the Rams will have games at Tupelo, Roff, Silo, Wister, and Wright City in the first month of the season – not exactly “popcorn state” teams.

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