The Hornet baseball team is poised for another great year after posting a 26-10 mark last year and going to the state tournament.

“We’ve got just about everyone back from last year so we’re feeling pretty good about things,” said coach Nathan Frisby. “We return guys like catcher Cole Leach who I think is arguably the best player in the state and has committed to OU next year, Parker Ireland at first base who had a really good year, Chad Parks and Case Leach who both pitched for us last year, Brayson Parker who works at several positions, Pearson Bennett our designated hitter and infielder Jace Hannon. We’ve also added Mason Pickering who transferred back here from Oktaha and has committed to Austin Peay.”

Frisby notes that it takes more than just talent to have a winning team.

“We have talent, but our team culture has a lot to do with our success. It’s just doing the little things like being on time, playing unselfishly and holding yourself accountable that really set the tone for us.”

Now that the Hornets have had a taste of what going to state is like, Frisby says the team will be better prepared this year if they return.

“I didn’t feel like we were quite ready for the big stage last year. You just can’t replicate the feeling of being there and we were playing a talented Marlow team that had been to state two or three years in a row. So if we can get back there this year, we’ll know what it’s like and if we stay healthy and play well, I believe we can do it.”

The Hornets schedule includes tournaments at Pryor and Inola as well as their own tournament and a district schedule that includes Stigler, Sallisaw, Poteau, Idabel, Muldrow and Broken Bow as well as a spring break trip to Alabama to play some top competition.