4A South Regional Preview

April 29, 2016

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

4A South Region Season Preview:

If you are going to make predictions you have to be willing to stick with them. So lets review my picks before we preview the 4A South Regional tournament.

4A-7                                                                       4A-8
1. Arkadelphia                                                   1. Star City
2. Ashdown                                                        2. Hamburg
3. Nashville                                                         3. Crossett
4. Malvern                                                          4. Monticello

What has happened: Both conferences have some seeding issues to work out but we know who the eight teams will be.

4A 7                                                                       4A-8
Arkadelphia                                                        1. Crossett
Ashdown                                                             Star City
Nashville                                                              Hamburg
Bauxite                                                                 Monticello

Overall not bad I picked 7 of the 8 teams correct. Malvern finished 5th in the conference standings and lost a close game to Nashville in the District Tournament to miss out. In 4A- 8 I picked all four team correct just missed the order. Crossett has locked up the No. 1 and will play the loser of Nashville vs Bauxite which is scheduled for Monday. Arkadelphia and Ashdown will play Monday night to decide who is the No. 1 seed from 4A-7. Star City impressively gets in losing two of their top three arms, one of the losses was also their starting catcher.

Pitchers to Know

Arkadelphia: Ouachita Baptist commit 2016 LHP Bradon Matros. The left-hander has advanced pitch-ability locating three pitches for strikes. His fastball works 84-86 mph with slight run. He has been a staple in the pitching rotation for the Badgers for 4 years which has included 2 State Titles and a State Championship Runner Up.

Ashdown: Henderson State commit 2016 LHP Austin Cross. Cross competes in the strike zone with a fastball 82-85 mph with late life through the strike zone. He compliments the fastball with a swing and miss curveball with 1/7 action with late break.

Bauxite: 2017 RHP Hunter Gautreaux. A physical player with a mid 80's fastball and a solid breaking ball that keeps hitters off balance. Gautreaux has given the Miners big starts all year, I expect nothing less from him in the first round of the regional.

Hamburg: Arkansas Monticello commit 2016 LHP Drake Streeter competes in the strike zone with three pitches. Streeter has shown the ability to compete hitter off-balance and give the Lions a chance in every big game the last two year. The defending South Region Champions will lean on Streeter again this year

Star City: Arkansas State commit 2016 RHP Blake Wynn. The right-hander competes in the strike zone with an 84-86 mph fastball and sluve breaking ball. He is talented enough to pitch the Bulldogs through the first round.

Position Players

Arkadelphia: A senior laden roster with loads of experience. Ouachita Baptist commit 2016 MIF Cutter Jester hits at the top of the line up for the Badgers, as he goes so does their offense. If he gets going expect big things from Arkadelphia.

Ashdown: Similar to Arkadelphia, a large group of seniors makes up the majority of this roster. Even though that is the case, they will have to receive production from some of their younger players if they expect to win this regional. 2017 MIF/RHP Taj Bishop, 2017 MIF Bryson Haskins, 2018 C Alex Day and 2018 CIF/RHP Jaden Hill are some names to know.

Hamburg: 2016 OF Darien Burns is a left-handed bat that can get hot enough to carry a line up through this tournament. He has shown the ability throughout his career to hit doubles to both gaps, with occasional home run power.

Overall

Historically the toughest of all 4A Regional's and I don't think this year will be any different. All four of the first round games should be highly competitive. The front runners are Ashdown and Arkadelphia with their experience and depth but they will have to get past a tough first round game for the depth to come into play.

4A South Regional Preview

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