New faces, familiar fire for Oran baseball

ORAN, Mo. — Change is inevitable in the ever-evolving landscape of high school baseball, and Oran is no exemption.

With the departure of three all-state players who left an undeniable mark on the program, the stage is set for a new generation of athletes to step into the spotlight. As the fall season unfolds, this spirited group aims to prove that while their lineup may have shifted, their burning thirst for victory remains unquenchable.

“We are going to approach this fall like we do every fall and evaluate our team for the spring season,” said Oran coach Joe Bickings. “We lost five seniors off of last year’s team and three of them were starters their whole high school career. They will be tough to replace, and we are going to have some players in spots that haven't had a lot of high school baseball experience.”

Oran's Carson Kern (21) jogs into home base after hitting a home run�during�a 4-0 win over Bell City in the MSHSAA Class, District 2 Championship at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

The good news is the Eagles are returning six starters in Brenden Campbell, Nolan Loper, Gabe Dirnberger, Carson Kern, Kole Burger and Parker Bryant from a squad that finished 17-4 last spring.

“Most of our kids play summer baseball with area travel teams like the Missouri Bulls, Southeast Tropics or the Charleston Fighting Squirrels,” Bickings said. “I'm excited to see how much they have improved over the summer.”

With a solid foundation of starters, Oran is poised to build on its impressive tradition which includes three state championships in the past decade.

Oran head coach Joe Bickings give Gabe Dirnberger (25) some words of encouragement before an at bat�during�a 4-0 win over Bell City in the MSHSAA Class, District 2 Championship at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

As the team’s summer preparations transition into the fall season, the Eagles’ sights are set on the challenges that await them and the opportunities for future success.

“Our Fall schedule is pretty tough,” Bickings said. “We start in the Bank of Grandin Classic and play teams a little out west we don't normally get to play. We also have teams that had runs in the state playoffs last year in Bernie (Class 2 Quarterfinals), Greenville (Class 2 Sectionals) and Cooter, who ended our season in Class 1 Sectionals and finished third in Class 1.

“We have plenty of Stoddard County teams which are always tough opponents,” he continued. “Bell City gave us a really good game in the district championship last year, Puxico is very athletic, Bloomfield is a young and hungry group, Woodland won the conference last year, and seems like Advance always plays us in a close game every time. To round the schedule out is Twin Rivers who we lost to last fall, Leopold who is much improved and I believe was young last year, and South Pemiscot, who is always tough as coach [Jason] House does a great job with them.”

Oran assistant coach Jim Simpler give Kole Burger (18) a call�during�a 4-0 win over Bell City in the MSHSAA Class, District 2 Championship at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

Oran will begin the fall season at the Bank of Grandlin Classic in Ellsinore, Missouri on August 25.