OK Preseason Preview: Carl Albert
February 3, 2022
The Oklahoma high school baseball season kicks off on Feb. 21 for A-B, and March 1 for 2A-6A. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2022 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Oklahoma Preseason Power 25 Rankings.
We’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.
Our 2022 preseason coverage continues today. 
Team: Carl Albert
2021 Record: 33-7-1 (State Champs)
Classification: 5A
Head Coach: Ryan Whiteley
OUTLOOK
2021 saw the Titans came out on top of class 5A winning their first state title since 2014. The road to the Championship game started in the opening round of the State Tournament where they were down two runs heading into the final at bats and with two outs picked up a 2 RBI double that landed on the left field line to win in walk off fashion and advance. From there the bats really came alive scoring 13 runs in the semi-final and state championship. Coach Tim LaValley retired on top as a champion and now coach Ryan Whiteley takes over the reigns in 2022 and will have a host of returning impact players to rely on to try and make it three consecutive seasons in the Title game. They will have to reload the roster a bit and replace the production from guys like Houston Russell, Ezra Gustafson, and Gavin Haines and will need some more of the unexperienced players on the roster to step up and make an impact. The Titans will look to put pressure on defenses all season long with a strong mix of physical bats and good athletes and will look for those bats to carry them to another deep run in May.
Impact PLAYERS
Luke Stout, 2022, UTL, Hillsborough CC commit
Stout returns to the Titan lineup after a big 2021 Spring campaign that ended with a bang in the State Championship going 4-5 and driving in an incredible 7 runs. The Hillsborough CC commit is one of the top left-handed bats in the State with good overall athleticism and also provides some positional versatility for the Titans being able to handle the hot corner as well as get behind the plate. At 6-foot-1 and 190-pounds, Stout has the projectable frame and hand strength with the bat to continue to make big jumps offensively and will be counted on to carry a big load in the offense for Carl Albert as they try to make it back to the State Championship game for the third consecutive season.
Luke Stout (2/6/21)
Jaxon Holland, 2022, OF, Cameron Univ. commit
Holland will look to build off a strong second half of the season in 2021 to help provide some offense in the middle of the lineup. After suffering an injury in the first game of the season, the Cameron University commit came back in late April to provide a much-needed boost to the lineup hitting at a .364 clip with 5 doubles. The Titans will hope to get a full season of at-bats from Holland and his quick and short stroke as well as his above average defensive abilities in the outfield.
Hinson saw action in 35 games last year as a sophomore and will look to build on that experience and transition into a more prominent role for Carl Albert in 2022. Hinson had a .307 average in 2021 that included 6 doubles using his loose swing with quick hands through the zone. Hinson also provides some athleticism to the lineup with good footspeed and should play a big role with their high-pressure offense. Defensively he has the tools and actions to play anywhere on the infield and will provide some good versatility to the Titan roster.
Russell came on late for the Titans in 2021 and was a big spark to the lineup in their journey to capturing a State Title. With two outs and down one run in the State tournament opener, Russell shot an opposite field double that landed on the line to bring in two runs and advance in a walk off fashion. The left-handed hitter has good balance at the plate and works the hands well to the ball with efficient routes. Expect Russell to play an even larger role in the lineup for his sophomore campaign and be a run-producing force for the Titans in 2022.
PLAYERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Chase Lashley, 2023, P/1B
Karsten Geiger, 2022, OF/P
Mason Trotter, 2023, OF/P
Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2022 season.
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