Preston senior Pirate Jaden Skupien signed to play college ball with the Oklahoma Christian University Eagles baseball team, who are located in Edmond, Friday afternoon. Skupien is trading the orange and black colors of the Pirates for the maroon and silver of the Eagles, who are coached by Lonny Cobble.

“I went up there and toured it and then I just figured that was the right fit for me, because I do go to church and I’m saved,” Skupien said of his decision to commit to the Eagles. “So, it would help me stay closer to God because statistics show that 90 percent of students fall away from God once they move to college. I thought it would let me stay close with Him.”

Skupien has been an integral member of the Pirates’ baseball squad all four years of his high school career and helped lead his team to a 5-0 record during a short-lived spring season. Though the Pirates were able to complete only five games, they were already on a war path to the postseason. Five games into the 2020 spring season and they were undefeated, including three shutout victories; however, the spread of COVID-19 cut short any chances or possibilities they might have had to make it to regionals or state.

“We were getting better. We were all brothers,” Skupien said. “We said brothers before every game and we meant it. It was just brotherhood and my senior year we really started bonding more and getting together. That just led us to having more fun on the field, which led us to make more plays.”

Throughout his four years with the Pirates, Skupien has watched his team evolve and try to reproduce his freshman year when the Pirates made it to the Class 2A State Baseball tournament. The Pirates dominated during their 2016 season with a 24-5 record and an appearance in the first round of the State Tournament. Preston, ranked No. 6 in Class 2A, went up against No. 3 Christian Heritage and fell in a tense 5-1 battle. Since then the Pirates have fought their way to three District Championships, but have been stopped short at regionals.

“My freshman year we were good,” Skupien said. “My sophomore and junior year we kind of struggled with people leaving and people doing different positions, but our senior year was going to be good. We started off good.”

The Pirates had a strong start to the 2020 season with five straight wins. Last season, the Pirates obtained three victories before Eufaula disrupted them with a 4-1.

During the five-game season, Skupien picked up seven RBIs and six hits, including two doubles. He was able to pitch in one game, delivering 88 pitches against the Weleetka Outlaws in the third game of the year. Skupien allowed no runs and the Outlaws were only able to land four hits during 8-0 stomping.

“A tremendous teammate. A tremendous kid. A tremendous human being, even outside of baseball,” Preston Pirate Head Coach Ryan Hudson said. The kid, throughout the four years, has just gotten better each year, each season. Seeing him have that success and go to the next level just means the world to me.”

Skupien smacked a total of three singles against the Bulldogs in a doubleheader matchup at the start of the season. The first game resulted in a 16-run win for the Pirates, who defeated the Okmulgee Bulldogs 18-2 and 11-0.

Skupien also helped lead the Pirates fall baseball team a positive season record of 18-8.

“I know he’s going to have a lot of success on the next level,” Hudson said. “He’s got a lot of success because he works hard day in and day out and I couldn’t be more happier.”

Skupien will begin his college career in the fall as an Eagle. The Oklahoma Christian Eagles completed their 2020 season with a 9-13 record before the NCAA canceled the remainder of the year. The Eagles were on a three-game win streak when their season was cut short. According to Skupien, he’s most excited about having the opportunity to keep playing the sport he loves.

“Just playing ball,” Skupien said about continuing his baseball career. “It’s been a childhood dream to always play in college.”

However, with a closely bonded team, Skupien said he will miss playing with the Pirates.

“All the wild memories that we’ve had,” Skupien said. “Just playing with them. It’s going to be tough not playing with them.”

JADEN SKUPIEN

PRESTON HIGH SCHOOL • SENIOR

SPORTS: BASEBALL (4 YEARS)

BASKETBALL (4 YEARS)

FAVORITE ATHLETE: BRYCE HARPER

ROLE MODELS: MY PARENTS