SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 baseball rankings: Stillwater jumps to No. 1 after shakeups in regionals
By Ty Loftis
Rattan photo by Glen Brockenbush
State baseball titles have been awarded to those competing in Classes A and B, and it is championship week for those in Classes 2A-6A.
With that, we take a look at how the top teams from across the state stack up as we present the SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 for the final week of the season.
1. Stillwater Pioneers
The Pioneers didn’t make it easy on themselves in regional play. After losing to Sand Springs in a regional tournament game that would have put the Pioneers a game away from the state tournament, Stillwater battled back to beat Booker T. Washington, 25-15.
This meant Stillwater needed to beat the Sandites twice to make the state tournament. After a 4-3 extra innings win, Stillwater won the deciding second game, 8-7. In that victory, Gage Gundy hit three home runs.
2. Bixby Spartans
Much like Stillwater, Bixby has had an up and down season, but the Spartans might be figuring things out at the right time.
The Spartans had to travel to Broken Arrow for regional play, but cruised en route to a three-game sweep of a regional championship, outscoring their opponents, 19-0.
The Spartans start state tournament play with a game against Edmond North.
3. Elk City Elks
Standing at 33-3, Elk City is the favorite heading into the Class 4A state tournament. The Elks cruised through district and regional play, winning the five games by a combined score of 41-1.
The Elks could face Tuttle in the second round, a team they lost to in early March. Junior Kash Mayfield will lead the way on the mound for Elk City and be the key for the Elks if they are to win a state title.
4. Enid Plainsmen
Enid has been one of the surprise teams across the state this year, and that surprise has carried over into a state tournament bid.
The Plainsmen got to host a regional, and in a must-win situation on Saturday, defeated Jenks, 9-3, to get to state where they will play Westmoore in the first round.
5. 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. The Wildcats followed that up by hosting a regional tournament and winning the three games by a combined score of 36-10.
Piedmont now hosts Grove in the first round of the Class 5A state tournament.
6. Washington Warriors
The Warriors moved to 29-5 after an impressive regional outing, which was capped off with a 20-2 win against Jones. In that game, Camden Bates was 5-for-5 with a home run and Marlon Moore was 3-for-3 with a homer as well.
They now play Victory Christian in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament.
7. Midwest City Carl Albert Titans
Carl Albert faced a wild regional, facing off against a Duncan team that won the Class 5A state tournament last year.
In what came down to a must-win game; the Titans got a 19-6 win, advancing to the state tournament. Hutch Russell hit a big home run in that first game against Duncan.
The Titans open state tournament play with a game against Collinsville.
8. Blanchard Lions
The Lions are looking to repeat as Class 4A state champions and having won nine straight to end the year, they are among the favorites.
Blanchard dominated district and regional play after a little bit of a midseason slump. The Lions will play Pryor in the first round of the state tournament.
9. Owasso Rams
The reigning Class 6A state champs didn’t have the kind of regular season that they had hoped for, as the Rams had to travel to Tulsa Union for a regional.
After a dramatic 11-inning win against the Redhawks (last week's No. 1 ranked team in the SBLive Oklahoma poll), they defeated Bartlesville by a run to clinch a spot in the state tournament.
With the talent that the Rams have up and down their lineup, they will be a team to keep an eye on this week, as they open state tournament play against Edmond Deer Creek. The Rams also have the coaching talent, as Larry Turner now has the most wins in the state of Oklahoma in spring baseball.
10. 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 and cruised through regional play, winning the three games by a combined score of 31-1. At 28-5, 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 has signed with Oklahoma State University and is expected to lead the way for the Rebels in state tournament action. Silo opens Class 2A state tournament play with a game against Preston.
11. Tuttle Tigers
Tuttle is 34-4 on the year and went a perfect 14-0 in district play. The Tigers have won 12 straight heading into the state tournament and have only given up a single run in the last six games.
The Tigers will be one of the favorites to dethrone Blanchard as Class 4A state champs. Tuttle opens state tournament play with a game against Fort Gibson.
12. Elgin Owls
The Owls finished at an impressive 13-1 in district play to clinch a regional host site where they ran through their competition, winning the three regional games by a combined score of 26-1.
Elgin has an overall mark of 29-8, including a 6-4 win against Noble that all but clinched a district championship two weeks ago. In that game, Ritson Meyer had a clutch hit that scored a run.
Elgin begins Class 5A state tournament play with a game against Sapulpa.
13. Fort Cobb-Broxton Mustangs
The Mustangs completed a near-perfect season on Monday by getting a 9-4 win against Roff to claim a Class B state championship. In the championship win, Blayke Nunn had three hits and five RBIs.
The win marked the “triple crown” for Fort Cobb-Broxton, meaning they won state championships in fall and spring baseball along with basketball.
14. Westmoore Jaguars
The Jaguars got off to a bit of a sluggish start on the year, 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 played host to a regional with Capitol Hill, Moore and Edmond Memorial, and won it to advance to the state tournament.
The Jaguars open Class 6A state tournament play with a game against Enid.
15. Collinsville Cardinals
The Cardinals head into Class 5A state tournament play at 31-4. This includes a perfect district record; seamless home record and a 13-0 regional championship win against Tulsa Edison.
In that game, J.T. Davis - who was the winning pitcher in Owasso's 6A title-game win a season ago - pitched five shutout innings and struck out five. Collinsville now plays Carl Albert in the first round of the Class 5A state tournament.
16. Cushing Tigers
The Tigers are now a perfect 25-0 on the year after winning back-to-back one-run games against Poteau to win the regional title, but they 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. Cushing opens Class 4A state tournament play with a game against Lone Grove.
17. Sapulpa Chieftains
The Class 5A state tournament will be a competitive field and with the Chieftains cruising through regional play, there is reason to believe they will be right in the mix.
They open state tournament play with a game against Elgin.
18. Rattan Rams
The Rams won the final 10 games of the regular season and capped it off with an 11-3 win in the Class A state championship game against Sterling. In three straight tournament games, the Rams scored a combined 38 runs.
19. 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 had to travel to Choctaw for regional action and defeated them twice, winning each game by a single run. The Huskies now open Class 6A state tournament play with a game against Bixby.
20. 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 got to host a regional and they won the regional championship against Bishop McGuinness, 14-3.
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 when state tournament play starts this week against Bishop Kelley.
21. Dale Pirates
The Pirates are headed back to the state tournament for the 29th consecutive year after a regional championship win against Morrison last week.
Dale opens state tournament play with a game against Amber-Pocasset. All-state basketball player Dayton Forsythe is also making contributions on the diamond.
22. Oklahoma Christian School
Sitting at 26-9, Oklahoma Christian School is certain to challenge Washington for the Class 3A state title.
In a must-win game against Bethel, they got a 5-2 victory to advance to the state tournament. In that regional title win, Spencer Schwandt threw seven innings and struck out seven, while going 2-for-3 from the plate.
The Saints open state tournament play with a game against Spiro.
23. Tulsa Union Redhawks
Despite a disappointing end to the season, that doesn’t change the fact that the Redhawks had one of the best regular seasons across the state.
Union finished 32-8, but in the final two games of the year, were unable to get their bats working, as they lost both games 1-0. Ben Flusche and Camden Knutson both return next year.
24. Bishop Kelley
In late April, the Comets lost six of seven games, but rebounded in the regional tournament by winning all three games to advance to the state tournament.
Bishop Kelley defeated McAlester in back-to-back games and in that second game, Jackson Archambeau went 2-for-3 and Kam Thomas pitched a complete game, striking out eight.
25. Oktaha
The Tigers have now made 30 state tournament appearances after back-to-back 12-0 wins against Walters in the regional tournament.
In that first win against Walters, Maddox Edwards threw a no-hitter and Hunter Dearman hit a home run.
Oktaha opens 2A state tournament play with a game against Cashion.
