The Summer break is almost over and schools in Oklahoma will begin the 2025-2026 school soon. That also means that it is almost time for the 2025 High School Fall season to start.

The season officially opens on Monday, August 11 (or sooner if both schools are already in session). For the next few weeks, we will be previewing several teams as they look forward to the season.

Recently, SSBR sent out questionnaires to the head coaches of the schools playing baseball this Fall. We asked about their returning players, top players, strengths/weaknesses, and their overall assessment of where their teams are and could be.

Today’s team: Navajo Indians

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Classification: A

Fall 2024 Results: 22-10 (State quarterfinalist)

Spring 2025 Results: 27-4 (State quarterfinalist)

Head Coach: Weston Winters

Head coaching experience: 19 years (all at Navanjo)

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Top Returners

• Jake Lingle: .426 AVG, 5 HR, 37 RBI; Ace of pitching staff
• Kanyon Mertz: .282 AVG, HR, 33 RBI; Starting C as frosh
• Gunner Jackson: .316 AVG, 7 2B, 7 SB; Top guy out of bullpen
• Kanin McDowell: 2.27 ERA, 24.2 IP, 30 K

Top Newcomers

• Kash Boley: Athletic, swings bat well, versatile on defense, transfer from Blair
• Austin Caton: Should have opportunity to be everyday starter in OF; pop in bat
• Tilden Smith: Opportunity to start at 1B; Should pitch as well
• Braydan Herrin: Opportunity to start at 2B; Could pitch several innings after arm injury
• Jaxon Konen: Left handed pitcher
• Freshmen that could see playing time: Levi Ingram, Kooper Covey, Miles Guenther, Sage Jones, Joshua Birely, Kaden Urbina, Grayson Childers, Alonzo Diaz

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Outlook

Longtime Navajo head coach, Weston Winters, says this team should be solid at the plate telling SSBR “(they) should swing it pretty well.” The Indians’ defense and base running should also be their main strengths according to Winters.

According to Winters the main concern coming into the Fall will be Navajo’s pitching. The Indians graduated several of their arms from last year, and two of their would be starting pitchers will be out the entire fall season with injuries. Navajo will be young on the mound, but Winters says “these guys work really hard.”

Navajo has been making some waves the last couple of years as they’ve made 3 straight State Tournaments (Spring ’24, Fall ’24, Spring ’25). This Fall it looks like the pitching and if it can come around or not will mean the difference of a nice season and another State Tournament appearance.

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Schedule

• Aug 11 – at Ft Cobb-Broxton
• 14-16 – Fletcher Wood Bat Tournament
• 18 – Granite
• 21-23 – Tupelo Tournament
• 25 – Calumet Festival
• 26 – at Lookeba-Sickles
• 28-Sept 1 – Hyrdo-Eakly Labor Day Tournament
• 2 – at Canute
• 4 – at Granite
• 5-6 – Elk City Festival
• 8 – at Vici
• 11-13 -Sentinel Tournament
• 15 – Fletcher/Leedey
• 16 – Duke
• 18-20 – Hammon Tournament
• 23 – Drummond (at Weatherford)
• 25-26 – Districts
• 29 – Hammon
• Oct 2-4 – Regionals
• 9-11 – State Tournament

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