Head coach Sammy Lopez expects his Idabel Warriors baseball team to “swing it well” this season.

The Warriors, who posted an 11-12 record last season, will also have a “number of options on the mound.” 

“We are returning a young group of boys that saw significant playing time last year,” Lopez says.

Senior center fielder and pitcher Case Pratt headlines the 2023 Warriors roster.

“Case has been a staple in Idabel athletics. He improved drastically last season on the diamond for us,” Lopez says. “We look for him to have a great senior season.”

Waylon Phillips, a junior pitcher-catcher, whom Lopez labeled Idabel’s “field general,” is among Idabel’s top returners this year.

“He (Phillips) sees a lot of time behind the plate, so we rely on him to line our defense out,” Lopez says. “He had a breakout year last year at the plate for us, and we look for him to continue that into this season.

The Warriors open the season Thursday, Feb. 16 at Broken Bow then have a two-week turnaround before their next match at Silo. Idabel hosts its home-opener against Atoka at 4 p.m. Monday, March 6.