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: Preston Pirates
Class: A
Fall 2023 Record: 25-5 (State Tournament Qualifier)
Spring 2024 Record: 26-4 ( State Tournament Semi Finalist)
Head Coach: Ryan Hudson
Head Coaching Experience: Going into 11th year (all at Preston)
Returning Starters and Top Players
The Pirates look to return six starters from 2023-2024 with Kaden Dean and Noah Wilson leading the way.
Dean is an OF/P who can “dominate a game on the mound or at the plate against anybody.” He is a junior and Coach Hudson is looking for him to have a “monster year.”
Wilson is another OF/P that batted in the clean up spot last year and had some big hits for the Pirates in the playoffs. He’s been one of the Pirates “best arms” the last three years and is looking to have a big senior year.
Jayden Herring in an INF/P who has been leading off for the Pirates since his freshman year. He “does a fantastic job at 2B and is on of the Pirates top arms.”
Bradley Winford is an infielder who is a “great athlete who swings it with a lot of power.” The Pirates are looking for Winford to make an impact on the mound as well this year.
Hunter McElhannon is a catcher who had a great sophomore season behind the plate and established himself as one of Preston’s top arms in the Spring. He is a great athlete and “is just going to get better and better.”
Pepper Gallup (INF/P) had a good freshman year and look to have a bigger role going forward.
Jace Basquez (INF/P) is an incoming transfer that looks to make an “immediate impact in the lineup.” Coach Hudson says he will be a big addition to the staff as one of Preston’s top arms.
Outlook
Preston is a team that has gone to three straight state tournaments with them reaching the semifinals last Spring. The experience they gained from that will be counted upon this Fall to see them get back to the state tournament.
The Pirates return the top part of their lineup this year and what looks to be added pitching depth to go along with that. Add those to their good defense, and the Pirates seem to have a formula to get back to the state tournament and even contend for the state title.
Schedule
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