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2026 OSSAA Team Preview: Deer Creek Antlers

January 30, 2026
Prep Baseball Oklahoma Staff

The Oklahoma high school baseball season kicks off on Feb. 23 for classes A and B and Mar. 1 for classes 2A-6A, opening day for regular season action under OSSAA regulations. Leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2025 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down to the official Prep Baseball Oklahoma Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, 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 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Deer Creek
Head Coach: Andrew McGuire (2 at DC and 4 at WM)
Classification: 6A
2025 Record (Finish): 22-17

2026 SEASON OUTLOOK

No. of Returning Position Players: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

Top Returners:

  • Grant Richards – SR, 1B/OF, R/L.
    • Middle of the lineup guy who will drive in a lot of runs this year.
  • Mason Phillips – JR, SS, R/R.
    • Two-year starter at SS, very good hitter who can hit for power and average.
  • Grant Adams – JR, P/1B, R/R.
    • District starting pitcher, will be a big part of the pitching staff again this year.
  • Dax Chancey – SO, C/1B, R/R.
    • Very good defensive catcher with the potential to hit in the middle of the lineup; started 15 games as a freshman.
  • Tristan Tomlin – JR, OF, R/R.
    • Starting outfielder as a sophomore and will be a big part of the lineup going into 2026.
  • Mason Mayhew – SO, Utl, R/R.
    • Can play anywhere on the field; a great athlete who can affect the game in many ways.
  • Hudson Hedrick – JR, INF/OF/P, R/R.
    • Primarily a relief pitcher and late-game defensive substitution as a sophomore, but will play a bigger role in the lineup and on the mound this year.
  • Walker Edwards - SR, UTL, Uncommitted
    • Missed 2025 season but was a big contributor in the 2024 season as a sophomore, will most likely be key piece to the success of the Antlers in 2026.

Top Newcomers:

  • Colin Allen – SR, P.
    • Missed the 2025 season but will be a big part of the pitching staff going into 2026. Johnson County CC commit.
  • Keagan Skluzacek – SO, P/INF.
    • Coming off a great freshman year both on the mound and in the infield; he could be a big part of the team’s success in 2026.
  • Collin Driskill – SR, OF.
    • Big bat that will help the offense in many ways. Kansas Wesleyan commit.
  • Zath Carter – SR, P/INF.
    • Look for him to be a large part of the pitching success in 2026.
  • Dray Humphrey – JR, INF/P.
    • Will most likely fill a lot of roles throughout the season; left-handed hitter who can play anywhere on the field and can also pitch.
  • Kai Horne - SO, INF/P, 6'3", 175, R/R.
    • Young infielder that will impact the program both defensively and offensively.

Key Players Lost:

Coach’s Insight: “This team should be a well-rounded group with the ability to excel defensively, on the mound, and at the plate. If we face challenges this season, the youth of our team could be a factor.” – Andrew McGuire, head coach

Outlook: The Antlers took eventual 6A state champion Edmond Santa Fe everything they wanted and more before being walked off in the regional. Despite losing a talented class of seniors, the Antlers return a number of talented players across the diamond. Offensively, Coach McGuire will have numerous options to insert into the lineup with a mix of youth and experience. They should be dynamic with their ability to pressure teams on the bases and put together tough ABs throughout the lineup. On the mound, they'll once again pressure the opponent with strike throwers. A fundamental group that will not beat themselves, Deer Creek's youth should develop throughout the spring and won't be a team anyone wants to see in May.

Find more information on the 2026 Deer Creek program below:

+ Follow them on X: @AntlerBaseball
+ Visit Prep Baseball Oklahoma’s 2026 OSSAA Team Previews page to learn more.

+ If you are a high school coach and didn’t receive our questionnaire, please click HERE to fill out the form

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