The Preston Pirates baseball team is riding high atop the OSSAA Class 2A-I Fall Baseball rankings with a 23-1 record, staking their claim as the team to beat heading into the final stretch of the 2025 regular season.
Under the direction of head coach Ryan Hudson, the Pirates have dominated both offensively and defensively, earning 11 firstplace votes and 222 points to top the statewide rankings released September 22. With recent victories over the Varnum Whippets and Roff Tigers, Preston continues to make a strong case for a deep postseason run.
— Pirates earn balanced victory over Varnum On Thursday, the Pirates hosted the Varnum Whippets and came away with a 6-3 win, fueled by early scoring and solid pitching.
Kaden Dean got Preston on the board in the bottom of the first with an RBI single, followed by a sacrifice fly from Jace Basquez to make it 2-0. In the second, Bryce McNac added to the momentum with an RBI double, and Dean later delivered a solo home run to right field in the sixth.
McNac also played a key role on the mound, earning the win with 3.1 innings of work, giving up five hits and one run. Pepper Gallup started and went three innings, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Karson Herbert came in for the save.
The Pirates collected 10 hits, with Dean, McNac, and Braxton Clarkson each tallying two. Mc-Nac led the team with two RBIs, while Hunter McElhannon and Tyler Stevenson each stole multiple bases. Preston racked up six steals overall and was flawless in the field, with Peyton Fjeldsted leading defensively with six chances.
— Pitching power prevails in 4-1 win over Roff The following day, the Pirates faced a tough opponent in the Roff Tigers but held strong for a 4-1 win.
Preston struck early again with an RBI single from Basquez in the first inning and extended the lead to 3-0 by the third thanks to a bases-loaded walk from Nick Costanza.
Dean was dominant on the mound, allowing only one hit and no earned runs over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight and walked six. McElhannon closed the door with a save in the final frame.
At the plate, Costanza and McElhannon both had two hits, while Dean, Basquez, Costanza, and Weston Cope each drove in a run. The Pirates drew six walks in the game and showed patience and discipline in the box.
Roff was limited to just two hits but walked eight times. They played a clean game defensively, but Preston’s pitching and timely hitting proved too much to overcome.
— Pirates hold firm in state rankings
Preston’s 23-1 record sets them apart from the pack in Class 2A-I. They lead a competitive field that includes Dale (20-3) and Silo (20-2), who hold the #2 and #3 spots respectively. Other contenders include Calera, Byng, Latta, and Tushka, but no team has matched the Pirates’ consistency on both sides of the ball.
Coach Ryan Hudson’s team continues to find ways to win – through small ball, power hitting, aggressive base running and deep pitching – while maintaining a high standard of play in the field.
— OSSAA Class 2A-I Baseball Rankings School W-L Points 1. Preston 23-1 222
2. Dale
20-3 213
3. Silo
20-2 201
4. Calera 18-6 176
5. Byng 13-6 171
6. Latta 14-7 165
7. Tushka 16-8 147
8. Colbert 14-7 140
9. Oktaha 15-10 105
10. Amber-Pocasset 11-9 105
11. Oklahoma Christian 17-6 101
12. Vanoss 8-10 76
13. Howe 19-8 73
14. Riverside 8-7 54
15. Santa Fe South 7-11 47
16. The Academy 1-7 0 – With postseason play fast approaching, the Pirates remain focused, hungry, and ready to bring home a championship to their community.
