7A Central Review

April 23, 2016

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

I have now seen all three games of the big three in 7A Central and just wanted to put out just my take a ways, from what has turned into the most competitive league in the state after the 2015 class graduated out of the 5A West.

Pitching

Good Luck to all offenses against any of the three pitching staffs.

Bryant: Runs out 5 pitchers that will pitch collegiately including three that are committed to pitch at Arkansas. It is unclear who they will pitch in a must win game but either way they go either 2016 RHP Zach Jackson or 2016 LHP Evan Lee they will get a competitor with elite stuff.

Catholic: The Rockets have three left-handers that can leave team scratching their head 2016 Dylon Thompson, 2018 Evan Hiatt and 2018 Hank Hannah. Thompson or Hiatt could go in big games without any drop off. They both use mid 80’s fastball that they locate on both sides of the plate. Hiatt has one of the most advanced breaking balls I have seen for a player his age. Hannah is a softer left-hander with movement and a solid breaking ball. The 4^th on the staff is 2017 RHP Noah Fowler who has advanced pitchability with a fastball that works 82-85 mph.

Conway: 2016 Collin Cahill has shown this spring he is fully healed from a 2014 ACL surgery and is back to the form everyone expect pre surgery. He commands the strike zone with 4 pitches. I felt the clear No. 1 is what this staff was missing but that is no more. Add the depth of 2016 RHP Matt Strickland 2017 RHP/CIF Cade Tucker and 2018 LHP Jordan Wicks and this is as impressive group.

Hitting

Bryant: The Hornets competes and stay to their approach 1-9 and have bought into the program and take advantage of any opportunities given out by their opponent. 2017 CIF Garrett Misenhimer is their guy in the middle of the lineup they look to drive in runs.

Catholic: This line up has the most one swing fire power of any team in the state. Hitters 1-6 have shown ability to drive the ball out of the hard at any given time. Susceptible to the strike out with their aggressive approach but also a walk a bloop and a bomb away from giving their elite pitching staff enough breathing room to put teams away.

Conway: The Wampus Cats are the most versatile line up. They have shown the ability to hit for power against Catholic and used the bunt game to defeat Bryant. A confident group that never seems to be in a bad spot whatever the situation may be.

Defense:

Overall all teams defend well, mainly due to being well coached. Each team has shown that they can kick an occasional ball and ultimately cost them in their rare loses. In most cases the teams that make the least amount of mistakes are going to win. So I expect defensive miscues will be what cost whichever team doesn’t end up in Baum Stadium of the three.

Overall:

After seeing each of these teams play multiple times, I believe that Conway is the most complete team. In the state tournament each of these teams are going to be a hard out with the advanced pitching staffs they run out.