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.
Today’s team: Preston Pirates
Classification: 2A-2
2025 Spring Results: 25-6 (State semifinalist)
2025 Fall Results: 29-2 (State quarterfinalist)
Head Coach: Ryan Hudson
Head coaching experience: 11 years (all at Preston)
Top Returners
- 2026 Kaden Dean (Kansas State)- One of the top LHP in the state regardless of classification. Very athletic in the OF and puts up elite offensive numbers.
- 2026 Hunter McElhannon (Cowley CC)- Baby face senior just turned 17 and looks to be in the low 90’s this spring. Great leadership and provides good pop in the lineup.
- 2027 Jace Basquez (Cowley CC)-6’3 RHP has been flirting with 90 MPH and looks to have a stellar junior campaign. Middle of the lineup guy who had a breakout season at the plate in the fall.
- 2027 Pepper Gallup– Adds a strong defensive presence at 1B. Continues to get better at the plate and will be relied on for starts/relief on the mound.
- 2027 Karson Herbert– RHP that will be in the midst of the starting rotation and also eat up innings out of the bullpen.
- 2027 Braxton Clarkson– DH that plays a vital role at the bottom of the lineup.
- 2028 Weston Cope– Consistently dependable IF and has progressed offensively.
- 2028 Ricky Hinson– Very athletic in the OF and makes hard plays look routine.
Top Newcomers
- 2026 Bryce McNac-UTL/RHP that adds valuable leadership and baseball IQ. Does an outstanding job behind the plate and swings it well at the top of the lineup.
- 2026 Tyler Stevenson– Really came into his own this fall at the plate. Athletic OF covers a lot of ground and is expected to have an even bigger offensive production this spring.
- 2027 Nick Costanza– One of the better SS you’re gonna see. Developed into a big barrel for us this fall at the plate and is expected to have even more offensive production this spring.
- 2027 Peyton Fjeldsted– Coming off foot surgery and should get him back by early March. Could be dangerous at the plate. 1B hits with power and will be instrumental for us offensively.
Overall Team Strengths
Pitching Depth
Overall Team Needs to Work On
Offensive efficiency and not being complacent.
Outlook
We want to get better everyday and be playing our best brand of baseball going into playoffs. Losing in the 1st round this fall really left a mark on these guys and they’ve been mindful of it this offseason. We don’t lack motivation or conviction at this point. Its all about getting to where we want to be and doing whatever it takes to get there.
Schedule
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
3/2 STROUD HOME 4:30
3/7 ROFF HOME 12:00
3/10 REGENT PREP HOME 4:30
3/13 VICTORY CHRISTIAN HOME 4:30
3/16 CENTRAL SALLISAW AWAY 4:30
3/18-21 KETCHUM TOURNAMENT TBA
3/23 REGENT PREP AWAY 4:30
3/26-28 STROUD TOURNAMENT TBA
3/30 OKAY HOME 4:30
4/2-4 BEGGS TOURNAMENT TBA
4/6 VIAN HOME 4:30
4/7 GLENCOE AWAY 3:00
4/9 BROKEN ARROW AWAY 5:00
4/10 BIXBY AWAY 5:00
4/13 GLENCOE HOME 3:00
4/14 HOWE HOME 4:30
4/16 CALERA/GORE HOME 3:00/7:00
4/20 DALE AWAY 5:00
4/21 OCA HOME 5:00
4/23 BEGGS HOME 5:00
4/27 OKTAHA HOME 4:30
4/28 OKEMAH HOME 4:30
4/30 VANOSS HOME 5:00
5/1 CENTRAL SALLISAW HOME 5:00
5/7-9 REGIONALS TBA
5/14-16 STATE TBA
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