Oklahoma high school baseball storylines, players to watch in 2024 season

When opponents face off against Choctaw baseball this spring, there isn't just one thing to expect.

The Yellowjackets have shown early that they have all the pieces to be championship roster. They are 6-1 after suffering their first loss of the season Friday to Bixby and have outscored opponents 67-11.

With a pitching staff of Easton Teel, a Cowley (Kansas) College signee, and Gage Albright dominating on the mound alongside Drake Fittro and Cash Williams, a Tennessee commit, coming to the plate, the Yellowjackets feel that there aren't many glaring weaknesses on the team.

"I think we have established that we're going to be some sort of contender this year," Choctaw head coach Shane Hawk said. "At the same time, though, it's crazy to see just how much competition there is in 6A overall. Right now, there are probably 20 teams that are good enough to have a shot at making the state tournament.

"One thing I love about these guys is that they embrace the challenge. They love to compete, and so do I. I really like our chances this year."

Yet, recent postseason history has not boded well in Choctaw's favor.

The Yellowjackets haven't won a state championship in 50 years and haven't won a state quarterfinal game since 1987. Hawk is highly aware of this history and is on a mission to change it.

With Division I caliber talent throughout the roster, Hawk is driven to seize the chance to create a new culture in his tenth season at Choctaw.

"I truly love the attitudes that these kids have come into this season with," Hawk said. They're like me — blue-collar guys who keep their heads down and work hard. As a coach, I've learned that it's more about the relationships we're building with our kids than the wins and losses, but if we can attack both the way we have, we're going to go for it all."

With the 2024 high school baseball season underway, here are more storylines as well as seven players to watch:

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Will Carl Albert repeat?

Ryan Whiteley is running out of fingers to place his championship rings on.

The Carl Albert coach has also split time as an assistant on the Titans' football coaching staff since 2017. In that time, Whiteley claimed eight 5A state championships, six titles in football and two in baseball.

As Carl Albert has jumped out to a 7-1 start in his third season as head coach, Whiteley remains on a quest to add even more hardware to his immense collection.

"It's been an eye-opening experience to see how the guys approach the day and their everyday preparation," Whiteley said. "Thinking back to the state championship game last year, it was clear that they were prepared for that moment. And that's kind of the thing that you see here at Carl Albert quite a bit."

A year ago, the Titans went 34-8 en route to a Class 5A state championship. So far, in their 7-1 start, familiar faces have continued to step up.

Hutch Russell leads the team with 10 hits and a .769 batting average in 13 at-bats. Alongside him is an additional slew of batting talent in Oklahoma State signee Kash Ferris, Easton Perkins, Declan Murphy and Sammy Gonzales, who has struck out 14 batters so far on the mound.

"The team is full of an eager group of guys that work hard every day to improve," Whiteley said. "We returned some key guys from last year who have helped keep that experience present. "We're going to compete in every game because they already have the idea of how to compete at then high level because they've been through it."

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Who will come out on top in Class 4A?

Last year was a tight year for Class 4A, and this year's competition looks even more challenging.

While the last two seasons have seen Blanchard and Tuttle squaring off in the state title game, the field is emerging, with Newcastle and North Rock Creek having solid starts. Newcastle sits atop District 4A-2 at 11-2 and North Rock Creek leads District 4A-8 at 9-2.

However, don't be quick to count out the last two 4A state champions.

Tuttle is 11-1 and has returned key catalysts from last year's state title run in pitcher Kolby Heskett and Braylon Brooks. Despite Blanchard's slow 4-6 start to the year, the Lions have returned stars Gage Ellison, Carson Howe, and Jaxon Heard to a similar core from last year's state runner-up roster.

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Seven OKC-area baseball players to watch

Carson Brumbaugh, Jr., Edmond Santa Fe: The Tennessee commit has solidified himself one of the top recruits in the Class of 2025. Brumbaugh can pitch a velocity up to 92 miles per hour on the mound and stellar play so far in 2024 has led Edmond Santa Fe to a 6-4 record.

Gage Ellison, Jr., Blanchard: Ellison was a gamechanger for the 4A state runner-ups in 2023 as he posted a 9-0 record with a 1.07 ERA and 90 strikeouts as just a sophomore. Expect the Lions star to pick up even more offers as Blanchard seeks revenge in 2024.

Kash Ferris, Sr., Carl Albert: Ferris shined as Carl Albert’s ace pitcher, leading the Titans to a Class 5A state title. The OSU signee was named to The Oklahoman's 2023 Big All-City first team after compiling a 9-2 record with a 1.74 ERA and 117 strikeouts.

Ethan Holliday, Jr., Stillwater: Holliday, an Oklahoma State commit and the younger brother of MLB's top prospect Jackson Holliday, is one of the best prep players in the country and considered by most the top prospect in the 2025 class. Last season, he drew 51 walks from opposing pitchers thanks to his .451 batting average and 15 home runs to lead the Pioneers to the state tournament.

Chance Owens, Sr., Yukon: Owens returns for his final high school season as a newly signed Cowley (Kansas) College recruit and fresh from a state semifinal appearance in Class 6A. He looks to pick up where he left off fueling Yukon’s offense after striking out just five times with a .448 batting average a year ago.

Jackson Pickelsimer, Sr., Mustang: Pickelsimer is coming off a stellar season where he was named Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. He had 64 strikeouts with a 1.07 ERA and an 8-1 record in 2023.

Cash Williams, Jr., Choctaw: The junior outfielder is another Tennessee commit that is already off to a hot start to the season. Williams has helped lead Choctaw to an undefeated start while smashing multiple home runs at the plate.

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school baseball storylines, athletes to watch in 2024