SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 baseball rankings: No. 18 Fort Cobb-Broxton pursues a title this week
By Ty Loftis
Fort Cobb-Broxton photo by Glen Brockenbush
Playoff season is upon us for high school baseball across the state of Oklahoma and as the season winds down, it is time to take a look at where the best teams stack up.
Here are this week's top 25 teams in the SBLive Oklahoma weekly rankings.
Note: Rankings are from games through Monday, May 1.
1. Tulsa Union Redhawks
The Redhawks finished the year strong, going 31-6 overall and lost only one district game to Bixby back in early April. Union outscored Enid, 18-2, and got some quality out-of-state wins at an early season tournament in Florida.
In their final regular-season game, Avery Ortiz and Ben Flusche each had three hits. The Redhawks will play U.S. Grant in the first round of the regional tournament, which they host. Bartlesville and Owasso are also in that regional.
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2. Sand Springs Sandites
The Sandites very well could be the hottest team in the state, as they have won 15 of their past 16 games and won a four-way tiebreaker to claim the district championship.
Sand Springs finished with an overall record of 27-7, and the Sandites begin regional play on Wednesday against Booker T. Washington.
Southmoore and Stillwater will join Sand Springs in regional play. The Sandites finished regular season play by getting a 4-1 win against Piedmont. Gage Elliot was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
3. Broken Arrow Tigers
The Tigers could have won the district title with a sweep of Owasso last week, but were unable to do so after losing 7-1 on Monday. Aidan Henderson pitched a complete game on Thursday to split the series.
Broken Arrow still gets to host a regional, and it should be a competitive one, as they will likely have to face Bixby if they are to advance to the state tournament. The Tigers open regional play with Muskogee.
4. Stillwater Pioneers
The Pioneers have had an up and down year, but there is no question they are one of the most talented teams in the state. At 25-9, Stillwater heads to Sand Springs for regional play where they will open up with Southmoore on Wednesday.
In a 13-3 win against Perry on Monday, Gage Gundy did a little bit of everything. He had three hits, three RBIs and two stolen bases.
5. Bixby Spartans
Another 6A team that will be involved in regional play this week, just like the four higher-ranked teams. Much like Stillwater, Bixby has had an up and down season, as the Spartans stand at 26-8 heading into regional play this week.
Most importantly though, the Spartans have currently won eight straight, including a sweep of Stillwater and a win against Sand Springs. The Spartans are now preparing for regional play at Broken Arrow.
In a senior night win against Cascia Hall, Jett Hope threw a no-hitter.
6. Elk City Elks
Standing at 30-3 and going a perfect 12-0 in district play, the Elks are the favorites as regional play starts this week. Elk City hosts a regional and opens play with Mt. St. Mary.
The Elks will also have to get past Chickasha and Sulphur if they are to make it to the state tournament next week. Expect junior Kash Mayfield to lead the way on the mound for Elk City.
7. Enid Plainsmen
Enid has been one of the surprise teams across the state this year, as the Plainsmen enter the playoffs at 24-8 and after finishing second in their district, get to host a regional.
In a district win against Stillwater, Enid’s offense carried the load, as James Humphrey, Bennett Percival and Garrett Shull all hit home runs.
Enid will have to get past Tahlequah, Jenks and Putnam City North if they wish to make it to the state tournament.
8. Piedmont Wildcats
In what was one of the more entertaining games of the year, the Wildcats clinched a district championship after facing a 12-7 deficit against Midwest City Carl Albert heading into the seventh inning and winning, 13-12.
Logan Hill had the winning hit in that game, and now the Wildcats host a regional with El Reno, Lawton MacArthur and Santa Fe South.
9. Washington Warriors
The Warriors enter regional play with tons of confidence after going undefeated in district play and winning their two bi-district games over Oklahoma City Millwood by a combined score of 33-0. In that first game, the team had 16 hits.
Camden Bates was 2-for-3 with two homers. They now host a regional with Purcell, Chisholm and Jones.
10. Choctaw Yellowjackets
Choctaw had a little bit of a slow start to the season, but once the Yellowjackets hit their stride, things began to roll into motion.
Choctaw only lost a single conference game and won 16 of its last 17 games, enabling the Jackets to host a regional with Norman North, Edmond North and Northwest Classen.
As the season came to a close, RJ Jackson broke the school’s home run record and Drake Fittro broke the single-season mark for most saves.
11. Midwest City Carl Albert Titans
With a 28-7 record, the Titans are one of the top contenders to win the Class 5A crown, as they fell a run short of being crowned district champions last week.
Despite the loss, Carl Albert is still hosting a regional. In order to make it to the Class 5A state tournament, the Titans will have to get by Ardmore, Del City and Duncan.
In their regular-season home finale against Shawnee, the Titans gave the gate money to the Wolves for tornado relief efforts.
12. Blanchard Lions
The Lions are looking to repeat as Class 4A state champions and after a near perfect mark in district play and a 26-5 overall record, including a 3-2 win against Tuttle, they seem to be the odds-on favorite.
Junior Carson Howe has already made his commitment to Murray State College and he has been putting in a lot of hard work in the infield so far this year. The Lions will play host to Cache, Bethany and Weatherford at their host site.
13. Owasso Rams
Finishing at 23-13, the reigning Class 6A state champs didn’t have the kind of year that they had hoped, as the Rams have to travel to Union for a regional.
With the talent that the Rams have up and down their lineup though, there is no question they are capable of making it to the state tournament. The Rams also have the coaching talent, as Larry Turner now has the most wins in the state of Oklahoma in spring baseball.
Not to mention, the Rams are the defending 6A champions, so it won't be easy for anyone trying to wrest away the crown from them.
14. Silo Rebels
The Rebels are the defending Class 2A state champions and are hungry for more in 2023. Silo got a bye into the regional tournament where they will play host to Hobart, Chouteau-Mazie and Warner.
At 25-5, one of their losses came to a team at a tournament in Florida and the other four have been against solid teams in lower classifications.
Senior Kyler Proctor is headed to Oklahoma State University, and is expected to lead the way for the Rebels in regional and possible state tournament action.
15. Tuttle Tigers
Tuttle went 31-4 on the year and a perfect 14-0 in district play this year, and will be a heavy favorite to dethrone Blanchard as Class 4A state champs.
They started postseason play in impressive fashion, by beating OKC Douglass in their bi-district double-header, 32-0.
As a result of their impressive regular season, the Tigers get to play host to Harrah, Kingfisher and Marlow for the regional tournament.
16. Elgin Owls
The Owls finished at an impressive 13-1 in district play to clinch a regional host site, where they will have to defeat Altus, Guthrie and OKC Southeast if they are to make it to the Class 5A state tournament.
Elgin had an overall mark of 26-8, and a 6-4 win against Noble all but clinched that district championship two weeks ago. In that game, Ritson Meyer had a clutch hit that scored a run.
17. Jenks Trojans
The Trojans finished the regular season with an overall record of 23-11 and in a four-way tie for first in the district standings. The Trojans finished third after the tiebreakers were sorted out and as a result, will travel to Enid where they will face Tahlequah in game one.
They had an impressive 10-9 win against Bixby, and in that win, it was junior Tanner Primeaux coming up clutch, as he came up with the game-winning hit.
18. Fort Cobb-Broxton Mustangs
The Mustangs were a game short of winning the Class B state championship last year, and now they are only three games away from getting the championship this year. They are the only team in this week's SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 with a chance to win state, as the Class B state tournament gets under way later this week.
Standing at 28-4, they have cruised to the state tournament, outscoring their five opponents by a combined score of 68-5, including an 11-0 win against Sentinel for the regional championship. Up first for the Mustangs is a game against Vici on Thursday.
19. Collinsville Cardinals
The Cardinals finished at an impressive 28-4 on the year and dominated through district play, enabling them to host a regional with Glenpool, Tulsa Edison and Will Rogers.
Three of their losses were against an out-of-state team, Tuttle and the third loss coming in early March to Stillwater. Their offense is rolling heading into the playoffs and the pitching staff is doing its job as well.
In a 6-3 win against Claremore, Cyrus Kornegay was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base.
20. Westmoore Jaguars
The Jaguars got off to a bit of a sluggish start, but were able to turn things around by going 12-2 in district play and winning their district by two games. As a result, Westmoore plays host to a regional this week with Capitol Hill, Moore and Edmond Memorial.
In a recent 6-1 win against Bixby, Rhett Monroe pitched a complete game, allowing only five hits, striking out eight and not allowing an earned run.
21. Sapulpa Chieftains
The Chieftains finished the regular season at 25-9 and 12-2 in district play, finishing in a tie for first with Bishop Kelley. In a loaded Class 5A field, they will be one of several teams vying for a state title.
Senior Hayden Lance has kept things steady on the mound and Jack Blevins has gotten off to a great start behind the plate.
The Chieftains open regional play with a game against Tulsa Memorial. Claremore and Midwest City will also be there.
22. Cushing Tigers
The Tigers are a perfect 22-0 on the year, but have yet to play a team ranked inside the top 25. As a result of their perfect record, they got a bye into the regional tournament this week, where they will play host to Inola, Wagoner and Poteau.
In a recent win against Bristow, Brody Berlowitz and Stetson Ethridge both hit home runs.
23. Duncan Demons
The defending Class 5A state champions finished the regular season at 20-11 and in a tie with Noble for second place in the district standings. Because they lost the tiebreaker with the Bears, they will travel to Carl Albert for regional action.
Michael Barham hit his fifth home run in the regular season finale and they certainly have the talent to make it to state, despite having to travel in regionals.
24. Edmond North Huskies
The Huskies finished in a three-way tie for second in their district with a 10-4 mark and finished the regular season at 22-9 overall. Edmond North has solid wins against Enid, Ft. Cobb-Broxton and Deer Creek.
After losing the tiebreaker, the Huskies travel to Choctaw for regional action. Norman North and Northwest Classen will also be at the regional site.
25. Noble Bears
Three district splits cost the Bears a chance at a district championship, as they finished conference play at 11-3 and regular season play at 24-10. Even with the three district losses, the Bears still get to host a regional with Guymon, Lawton Eisenhower and Bishop McGuinness.
Having played the likes of Elgin, Duncan, Carl Albert and Edmond North this year, you won’t have to worry about the Bears not being battle-tested.
