A year removed from completing a 29-12 campaign, Ada’s varsity baseball team plans to “have something solid, in place, by the time playoffs roll around,” coach Shane Coker says.

“This season is going to hinge on quality outings from our pitching staff. We have a really solid senior catcher (Carter Freeland) to handle any and all of these pitchers,” Coker says. “They will have to go out and pitch. We can’t just throw.”

Freeland, a Wharton Junior College commit, returns for his third year starting behind the dish. Coker says he could be a pro someday.

“He passes all of the eye tests, has a great arm and switch hits. He will hit in the three-hole for us,” Coker says. “He possess the ability to hit for average and power.”

Junior lefty Reid Samson will see “most of the action” on the mound, “provided he stays healthy.”

“He has gotten exponentially stronger this offseason,” Coker says. “He will hit in the middle part of our lineup and play an outfield or infield position when he’s not pitching.”

The Cougars open the season 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20 at Pauls Valley. They open at home the following day at 4:30 p.m. against Holdenville.