By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

We continued our campus series Saturday September 16^th at Arkansas Tech with 4 17U teams competing. It was a good day with several advanced position players competing. Here is a quick recap of the day, expect more notes on some of the players which stood out later in the week.

Game 1: Sticks Baseball Academy Red 6 vs Field House 5

Sticks Baseball Academy Red took the lead late in the game in a 6-5 victory over Fieldhouse on Saturday. The game was tied at three with Sticks Baseball batting in the top of the seventh when there was an error, scoring one run. A three -run lead in the seventh inning was just enough for Sticks Baseball Academy to hold off Fieldhouse for the victory.
 Fieldhouse scored five runs in the failed comeback on an error in the fifth, a single by Joe Voss in the fifth, a double by Garrett McCullum in the seventh, and a single by Voss in the seventh. Fieldhouse evened things up at three in the bottom of the fifth inning. Joe Voss singled on a 2-2 count in the fifth inning, scoring one run.

Fieldhouse scored three runs in the fifth inning. Fieldhouse’s big inning was driven by an error and a single by Joe Voss.

Walker Davis earned the win for Sticks Baseball. He went two innings, giving up three runs, two hits, and walking one. 2019 RHP/INF Zane Cox recorded the last three outs to earn the save for Sticks. 2019 RHP Josh Albat started the game for Sticks. He went four innings, surrendering zero runs, two hits, and striking out eight.  He had success with a steady two pitch mix, his fastball worked 85-88 mph with late life, and he complimented the fastball with a sharp breaking ball thrown 68-70 mph

2019 RHP Dalton Muse took the loss for Fieldhouse. He tossed three innings, giving up three runs, five hits, striking out three, and walking zero. Jackson Hull started the game for Fieldhouse. He pitched three and a third innings, allowing zero runs, two hits, striking out two, and walking one.

Sticks Baseball had 11 hits in the game. 2019 INF Jaydon Hostetler, 2019 INF Sam West, 2019 INF/RHP Zane Cox, and 2019 CIF Brayden Myers each collected multiple hits for the Sticks. Hostetler led the sticks with three hits in four at bats.

Fieldhouse collected six hits. Joe Voss and Garrett McCullum each collected multiple hits for Fieldhouse.

Game 2: Sticks Baseball Academy Red 9 vs Fort Smith Baseball Academy 8

Sticks Baseball Academy red took Saturday's game in dramatic fashion, with a 9-8 walk-off victory over Fort Smith Baseball. The Sticks were down 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh inning when 2019 C/1B Rylee Huie doubled off of 2018 RHP Joseph Mills driving in two runs.

2019 C/1B Rylee Huie collected four hits in four at bats to help lead the Sticks to victory. Huie doubled in the third, doubled in the fifth, doubled in the sixth, and doubled in the seventh. Huie showed advanced bat speed and strength as he doubled in both gaps.

Fort Smith Baseball took an early lead in the second inning. Fort Smith Baseball scored one run when 2018 OF/C Jake Smith   singled with two outs in the second inning.

The Sticks scored three runs in the third inning. The big inning was thanks to a triple by 2019 INF Sam West, a double by 2019 C/1B Rylee Huie, and a single by 2019 INF Zane Cox. The Sticks had 11 hits in the game. Huie, Cox, West, and 2019 OF/CIF Amzi East each collected multiple hits for the Sticks.

Fort Smith Baseball collected eight hits. 2018 OF Grant Johnson and 2018 OF/INF Christian Christ each collected multiple hits for Fort Smith Baseball.

Overall Sticks Baseball Red, has a strong nucleus of position players, they mix in several pitchers that command the strike zone with two or more pitches, and 2019 RHP Josh Albat is a front line arm that will be fun to watch in the spring.

Game 3; Fieldhouse 5 vs Sticks Baseball Academy Navy 0

Fieldhouse jumped out to an early lead and used a complete effort from their pitching staff to defeat Sticks Baseball Academy Navy 5-0 on Saturday. Fieldhouse scored on a single by Jevin Womack, a single by Steven Stewart, and a double by Cade White in the second inning.

2018 OF Weston McGhee led Sticks Baseball Navy with one hit in two at bats.

Fieldhouse had nine hits in the game. Cade White, Steven Stewart, and James Hicks each collected multiple hits for Fieldhouse.

Most shut outs don’t happen without a strong defensive effort this was the case for Fieldhouse as they didn’t commit a single error in the field. Winston Strawn had the most chances in the field with five.

Overall Fieldhouse showed to be a solid group on the day with several versatile athletes which can play multiple positions. A sound group of strike throwers on the mound.

Game 4 Sticks Baseball Academy Navy 9 vs Fort Smith Baseball Academy 3

Four hits from 2018 OF/LHP Gage Gore helped lead Sticks Baseball Academy Navy past Fort Smith Baseball 9-3 on Saturday. Gore singled in the first, doubled in the third, singled in the fifth, and singled in the seventh.

Sticks grabbed an early lead, as they scored on a single by 2018 INF Garrett Cook and a single by 2018 in the first inning.

The Sticks tacked on three runs in the fifth inning. The big inning was thanks to a single by 2018 OF/LHP Gage Gore and a fielder's choice by 2018 OF Weston McGhee.

The Sticks had 15 hits in the game. 2018 OF/LHP Gage Gore, 2018 CIF/RHP Alex Langley, and 2018 OF Garrett Mayhan each collected multiple hits for 

 Fort Smith Baseball collected seven hits. 2018 OF Jake Melton and 2018 INF Lucas Quarnga each collected multiple hits for Fort Smith Baseball.

Overall Sticks Baseball Academy Navy, showed off multiple position players who are above average athletes with a feel to hit. This group is comprised of mostly unsigned seniors that would be worth running down before the fall season concludes.

Fort Smith Baseball Academy is very similar with a bevy of collegiate players on the position player side of things, on the mound they compete in the strike zone with average stuff, most of their pitchers project to play a position at the next level.