It is hard to believe, but the 2025 college baseball season is less than a month away for several of our squads here in the Sooner State.
Over the next several weeks leading up to the season we will be looking a some of our teams on the college level. Recently we sent out a questionnaire to the head coaches of each squad from the NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA, and NJCAA levels asking about their returning players and incoming players as well as their thoughts about their strengths and “opportunities” heading into the 2025 season.
Let’s take a look at a team with high expectations for the 2025 season at the NJCAA (Junior College) level: Redlands Cougars.
2024 Recap
There is no other way to put it. The 2024 season was one to forget for Redlands. The Cougars finished with an overall record of 14-41 on the season and 6-24 record in conference.
Offensively, RCC had a slash line of .283/.393/.418. They had 33 HRs on the season with 284 RBIs. Their total of 449 runs on the season was good for an 8.17 runs/game average.
On the mound is where the Cougars really struggled. Their team ERA was more than the average runs/game for RCC at 8.39. Redlands also had a high WHIP of 1.93.
All of this along with the fact the Cougars has not had a winning season in 10 years, led to a head coaching change as Trent Troxell takes over the Redlands program.
Team Basics
- Official name: Redlands Community College Cougars
- Level: NJCAA Div II
- Location: El Reno, OK
- Conference: Region 2
- Head Coach: Trent Troxell (1st year at RCC, 1st overall)
2024 Team Statistics
Batting
– Games: 55, .283/.393/.418, 33 HR, 284 RBI, 449 H, 78 2B, 18 3B, 227 BB, 364 SO
Pitching
– Games: 55, 14-41, 8.39 ERA, 382 IP, 1.93 WHIP, 489 H, 250 BB, 319 SO
Returners
Position Players
- Easton Ford (1B/DH/RHP), 2024: G 54, .355/.450/.590, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 9 2B, 6 3B
- Easton Andrews (INF/DH), 2024: G 52, .313/.417/.558, 7 HR, 48 RBI, 17 2B, 3B
- Nate Anderson (CF), 2024: G 50, .339/.434/.404, 17 RBI, 5 2B, 3 3B
Pitchers
- Cade Sims (LHP), 2024: G 15/GS 15, 3-8, 2 CG, No Hitter, 4.18 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 66.2 IP, 72 H, 38 BB, 56 SO
- Kash Thorne (RHP), 2024: G 15, 1-3, 14.03 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, 25.2 IP, 18 BB, 14 SO
Incoming Players
- Mike Everett (C), Prev school: Hill College
- Izzy Diez (RHP)
- Teddy Doe (RHP), Prev school: Edmond Santa Fe
- Todd House (MIF)
- Brand Wilson (UTL), Prev school: Connors State
Outlook
Trent Troxell takes over the Redlands program after the previous head coach was let go late in the 2024 season. According to Troxell, the Cougars have better talent than they’ve had recently coming into the 2025 season.
Of the returning players, the Cougars have a solid core in Easton Ford, Easton Andrews, Nate Anderson, and Cade Sims. Both Ford and Andrews provide slug for the Cougars as they both had over .500 slugging percentages in 2024. Anderson is your stereotypical lead off man as he is as fast as anyone on the field. He consistently runs down deep fly balls in the gap to provide excellent defense. Sims is one of the best pitchers in Region 2. He had 2 shut outs last year including a no hitter against #14 Western Oklahoma State on the last weekend of the season. Unfortunately for Sims, he did not get much run support in his starts.
It will be a different look for Redlands in 2025 as Troxell looks for their pitching and defense to be their strengths. The returning pitchers showed improvement in the fall and along with the new arms, the staff should be deep enough to not have to rely on only a few arms.
Not only is the talent better for Redlands coming into 2025, the attitude and work ethic overall has improved in El Reno. The Cougars look to improve and challenge for a spot in the postseason tournament in the always tough Region 2.
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