By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

With the No. 9 story of 2015 we want to honor the players who had outstanding performances in the State Tournament and received the State Tournament MVP award in each classification.

7A

2016 RHP Kasey Ford, Bentonville HS
Ford picked up the win for Bentonville throwing 7 innings giving up 3 earned runs on 7 hits, while striking out 6, walking 5 and hitting 3 Conway hitters. Ford showed great competiveness making big pitching in big spots throughout the game. Ford showed off his fastball working 88-91 mph, touching 93 mph. He complimented the fastball with a sharp slider thrown 78-80 mph.

6A

2018 CIF Hunter Hicks, Sheridan HS
Sheridan raced out to big lead and then added enough late to hold off Benton’s rally to win the 6A state title. Sheridan is a perineal power in the 6A classification and received a big day from a freshman to seal deal in 2015. Hicks lead the Yellow jackets big offensive day going 2-3 with a walk 2RBIs and 2 runs scored.

5A

2015 LHP Drew Fitzgerald, Harrison HS
A dominate pitching performance was expected by 2015 RHP Daniel Sprinkle the highly touted right-hander from White Hall. Fitzgerald match Sprinkle pitch for pitch and leading Harrison to 2-1. Fitzgerald picked up the win pitching 6.1 innings giving up 1 run in the first and cruising from there.

4A

2016 CIF/OF Tye Brown, Star City HS
Tye Brown had the walk-off hit in the bottom of the 9^th. This hit will go down forever in Bulldog history as it brought Star City High School first baseball State Championship. The contest was well played game between two junior heavy rosters. Look for these two to battle again in 2016.

3A

2015 RHP Tyler Godwin, Mayflower HS
Godwin was sharp for the Eagles, throwing a complete game four hitter, with 10 strike outs, to pick up the win. He pitched from a low ¾ arm slot pounding the strike zone with a fastball 84-86 mph with slight run. He mixed in a slider and change up that he commanded on both sides of the plate.

2A

2016 RHP/INF Steven Huneycutt, Ouachita HS
Huneycutt dominated the game pitching 7 innings allowing just 3 hits, striking out 7 while allowing just one walk. The lone run scored by Magnet Cove was unearned.

1A

2015 RHP Ashton Kennedy, Armorel HS
Kennedy dominated the game from start to finish, pitching a complete game shut. His final stat line was 6 innings pitched, 8 strike outs 1 walk and 2 hits. He did not surrender a hit until the fourth. At this point the game was pretty much decided Armorel lead 7-0.

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