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: Union HS
Head Coach: Shawn Newkirk (19 years)
Classification: 6A
2025 Record (Finish): 15 - 20

 

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2026 SEASON OUTLOOK

No. of Returning Position Players: 4
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

Top Returners:

• Asher Fowler: CF, Sr, 5'11, 150 lbs., L/L.
  • One of the best OF in the state.
• Zack Oliver: SS, Sr, 6'0, 155, R/R.
  • Steady glove, plus arm, looking for consistency at the plate.
• Carson Brooks: C/Starting pitcher, Sr, 5'11, 200, R/R.
  • Tough behind the plate, plus arm, returning from Tommy John.
• Gavin Wilhelm: RF, Soph, 5'6 145 lbs., L/L.
  • Looking for improvement at the plate as he started for us last year as a freshman.
• Brock Leamy: P, Sr, 6'1, 180 lbs, R/R.
  • Looking for Brock to step-up as a starter and fill the 3B vacancy, good command on the mound.
    

Top Newcomers:

• Aiden Leathers: LF, Soph, 5'6, 140 lbs., L/L.
  • Gritty player, can handle the bat, good instincts.

Key Players Lost:

• Armando Gomez (Seminole State)
• Nate Gregg (Southwestern College)
• Jackson Franklin 

Coach’s Insight: “We are looking to play solid defense and do the little things right on the field to give us an opportunity for success. We should have two solid Monday/Tuesday starters with good command on the mound. We are inexperienced at several spots and we will have a different lineup every game, because we have so many two-way players. We will probably see three sophomores and one freshman in our lineup. ” – Shawn Newkirk, head coach

Outlook: Despite losing a talented Monday starter in Gomez to graduation, the Redhawks will utilize solid pitching and defense in 2026 with both a core of position players and arms returning. A few younger players gained valuable experience last season and will look to build on that coming into the spring. A staple of Union teams in the past has been above average defenders scattered all over the yard and this year's team should be no different with above average defenders through the middle of the field. Expect this squad to play fundamental baseball, not beating themselves, and also peaking in May with underclassmen continuing to develop.

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Find more information on the 2026 Union HS program below:

+ 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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