The calendar has turned to the a new year and that means the OSSAA high school baseball season will be here soon. Classes A1, A2, and B officially get started February 23 while the rest of the classes begin March 2.

Up until that the beginning of the season, SSBR will be providing previews of as many teams as we can. Recently, SSBR sent out questionnaires to the high school coaches across the state of Oklahoma asking for their top returning players, top newcomers, overall strengths/weaknesses, and their overall assessment where their respective programs are coming into the 2026 season.

What you have below are the responses to those questions in the words of the coaches themselves.

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Today’s team: Claremore Zebras

Classification: 5A

2025 Results: 31-10 (State quarterfinalist)

Head Coach: Jonathan Gelnar

Head coaching experience: 4 years (all at Claremore)

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Top Returners

• Kellen Gaede– 2026 LHP/OF | 2025 All-District Pitcher; Kellen is one of our most versatile athletes and a high-level competitor on both sides of the ball. As a left-handed arm, he continues to make strides and has established himself as a reliable presence on the mound, while also being an impact bat and defender in the outfield. also a quarterback in football, his competitiveness, work ethic, and willingness to do whatever the team needs make him a natural leader within our program.
• Jax Van Valkenburg C/INF – Arizona State Commit; Jax brings leadership, toughness, and consistent production to our lineup. He has a strong feel for the game, competes with confidence, and plays with a genuine love for baseball that shows every day. He sets the tone with his preparation and presence, and his ability to lead while performing in big moments is what separates him.
• Saxton Pickup– P/1B USAO; Saxton is a player with tremendous upside who provides value in multiple roles. Whether on the mound or in the lineup, he brings consistency, toughness, and a competitive edge. He has been a key contributor in important situations and continues to grow as a reliable, dependable player who embraces his role.
• Tyler Osgood– C/INF – Eastern OK State College; 2025 all district performer. Tyler is a natural leader who brings a high level of work ethic and toughness to the field. He handles the defensive side of the game with confidence, communicates well, and consistently puts the team first. Offensively, he competes every at-bat and delivers when called upon, setting an example through his preparation and approach.

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Top Newcomers

• John Tedesco 2029 LHP/OF. John is a competitor who continues to develop on the mound while also providing value in the outfield and at the plate. Despite his age, he approaches the game with maturity and plays the game the right way.
• Brayden Floyd – Brady is a steady presence defensively and brings some juice on the offensive side. He loves to train and that commitment shows in his continued development. He will be a major contributor for us this Spring

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Overall Team Strengths

This group genuinely loves to play and they bring energy every day. They are a connected group that hang out with each other even off the field. They take alot o pride in playing for one another and competing the right way.

Overall Team Needs to Work On

As a team, our biggest area for growth is experience. We have a lot of new players stepping into bigger roles, and with that comes valuable learning opportunities. Each game situation will help us continue to grow, build confidence, and gain the experience needed to perform consistently at a high level as the season progresses.

Outlook

We’re excited about this group and the direction we’re heading. They love to play the game and compete every time they take the field. Our focus is just on bringing our best every day, trusting the process, and continuing to grow as the season goes on.

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Schedule

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