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 NAIA level: Oklahoma City University Stars.

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2024 Recap

OCU once again proved that they are one of the top programs not just in Oklahoma, the Sooner Athletic Conference, but the nation. The Starts finished in a tie for 2nd in the SAC regular season, made the SAC Tournament finals, and were ranked #21 in the final NAIA. OCU also received an at large berth to the NAIA Opening Round based on being the #14 team in the BoChip Ratings.

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Team Basics

• Official name: Oklahoma City University Stars
• Level: NAIA
• Location: Oklahoma City, OK
• Conference: Sooner Athletic Conference
• Head Coach: Keith Lytle (2nd year as HC at OCU and 2nd year overall)

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2024 Team Statistics

Batting
– Games: 53, .302/.393/.501, 75 HR, 326 RBI, 485 H, 90 RB 2B, 3 3B, 175 BB, 383 SO

Pitching
– Games: 53, 35-18, 15 SV, 5.46 ERA, 407.0 IP, 1.52 WHIP, 427 H, 190 BB, 338 SO

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Returners

Position Players

• Trent Kiraly (1B), 2024: G 53, .360/.437/.743, 19 HR, 59 RBI, 13 2B, 20 BB – 2024 All SAC 1st Team
• Aiden Alexander (CF), 2024: G 51, .328/.382/.406, HR, 27 RBI, 9 2B, 3B, 12 BB, 18 SB – 2024 SAC Gold Glove Winner
• Hunter Lenochan (2B), 2024: G 53, .330/.399/.447, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 7 2B, 18 BB – 2024 SAC Gold Glove Winner
• Barrett Daniel (LF), 2024: G 49, .225/.318/.467, 10 HR, 30 RBI, 3 2B, 14 BB
• Reese Ratchford (C), 2024: G 39, .345/.458/.575, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 8 2B, 17 BB – 2024 All SAC 1st Team

Pitchers

• Andrew Limbaugh (LHP), 2024: G 14/GS 12, 7-3, 2 CG, 3.59 ERA, 80.1 IP, 61 H, 33 BB, 69 SO – Will be #1 starter in 2025
• Isaac Horstman (RHP), 2024: G 7, 0-0, 4.38 ERA, 12.1 IP, 13 H, 2 BB, 12 SO- Will see more innings in ’25 as spot starter and reliever
• Jacob Burkett (RHP), 2024: G 12/GS 11, 5-3, 6.22 ERA, 55 IP, 66 H, 13 BB, 37 SO – Will be weekend starter

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Incoming Players

• Jeff Martz (C/1B), Prev school: University of Oklahoma/Gateway CC, 2024: 59, .325/.394/.496, 4 HR, 49 RBI, 19 2B, 5 3B, 24 BB – Has plus power
• William Ellis (SS), Prev school: Northern HS (Owings, MD) – High ceiling. Solid defender that will be a mainstay for the Stars in time
• Jack Johnson (3B), Prev school: Santa Barbara JC – G 13, .160/.222/.200 – Power hitter and outstanding defender
• Nicholas Bennett , Prev school: Univ of Ozarks, 2024: G 37, .411, 6 HR, 27 RBI – LHH who hit .400 in 2024
• Dalton Campbell (LHP), Prev school: Hill CC, 2024: G 15/GS 1, 3-8, SV, 4.92 ERA, 56.2 IP, 71 H, 61 K

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Outlook

Once again, the Stars look like one of the teams to beat both in the SAC and on the national level. They return SAC Player of the Year candidate, Trent Kiraly, another All SAC 1st team player and 2 SAC Gold Glove winners.

On top of that, OCU brings in some talented players at the plate. Head Coach, Keith Lytle, says his team will be deeper positionally and with more power, they’ll have the ability to score runs.

Furthermore, the Starts return their ace in the rotation along with another weekend starter. Coach Lytle says they have improved their depth in their pitching staff.

As always, OCU will play one of the toughest schedules. Along with having to play a SAC schedule, the Stars have 6 non conference games scheduled against preseason top 25 teams.

OCU is one of the top programs in the country and they are once again poised to show it in 2025. Don’t be surprised to see OCU challenge for a SAC championship and make the NAIA National Tournament and beyond.

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