SSBR High School Preview: Dale Pirates

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: Dale Pirates

Classification: 2A-1

2025 Spring Results: 28-5 (State Quarterfinalist)

2025 Fall Results: 25-4 (State Quarterfinalist)

Head Coach: Cody Merrell

Head coaching experience: 7 years (1st at Dale)

Top Returners

Braylon White – JR, INF/RHP – Can play all over the infield. He is athletic, strong, fast, and a great top of the order hitter. The gas peddle to the offense.
Chase Harris – JR, UTL/RHP – Swiss army knife, can play anywhere on the field and allows our defense to be at it’s best no matter who is pitching. Handles the bat and can do a lot of things offensively.
AJ Carpenter (Seminole) – SR, 1B/RHP – Middle of the order bat who hit for power and average this fall. Going to be healthy this spring and eat up innings on the mound.
Briar Turman – JR, 1B/RHP – Pitches with great tempo and efficiency. Going to get the ball often this spring. Has made great strides offensively and can hit for power.
Denton Forsythe – SR. OF – Four year starter who has played in a lot of big games. We will continue to lean on him and his experience.
Carver Crowson – JR, OF – Stepped in and had a strong fall offensively and defensively. . Finds a way to get on base and around to score.
Hunter Watkins – SR, OF – Very long and has great leverage. Good defender and very good situational hitter.
Eli Dougherty – SR, OF – Coming off of Tommy John. Has a solid and consistent swing that will provide us with a left handed bat.

Top Newcomers

Cruz Garrett – Soph, INF, RHP – Baseball player who makes it all look easy. One of the top players in his class who can really pitch, hit and field. Got better with every start on the mound.
Wyatt Seeley (Redlands) – SR, C – Tough behind the plate and a tough out in the box. Gives us a strong leader handling the pitchers.
Elvis Edwards (Seminole) – SR, INF, RHP – Middle infielder who sets the defense. Switch hitter that can hit all through lineup. Used in any situation on the mound and always wants the ball.
Andrew Collins – SR, UTL, RHP – Will be used in may different roles. Able to step in and provide great at bats and the moment is never too big.
Eli Dougherty – SR, OF – Coming off of Tommy John. Has a solid and consistent swing that will provide us with a left handed bat.

Overall Team Strengths

Experience, pitching and their love of competition.

Overall Team Needs to Work On

Staying consistent and being intentional in whatever it is we are doing. Every out is important on offense and defense.

Outlook

Looking forward to getting out there this spring. We have a good schedule that will hopefully have us playing our best baseball heading into May. If we can stay healthy and hungry I believe this group can make a run.

Schedule

Official Sooner State Baseball Report Merch

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