Regional Preview: 4A North Region

April 30, 2017

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

District tournaments were last week, the week was filled with dominating performances, close games, with high end talent coming to the top, and even a couple of talented groups being upset. This week we continue to pare down the competition on the road to Baum Stadium. We start with a preview of the 4A North Regional.

1-4A District

No. 1 Pea Ridge High School Record: 20-5

The Blackhawks are the No. 1 Seed after an impressive week at the district tournament, winning 3 games in 2 days allowing just 2 runs. This pitching staff has been led by 2018 RHP Jakotah Sainsbury 2019 RHP Tyler O’Dell, and 2020 RHP Tate Bussey. This group has the ability to take over and give their offense enough confidence to play free, knowing that they do not have to score much to win. Offensively they are a balanced group with solid athletes throughout the lineup, giving them options to manufacture runs consistently.

This has been a great year for Pea Ridge as they competed for the State Championship in Football and Basketball, this group has won all year. They don’t look like a group that expects any less in baseball.

No. 2 Shiloh Christian High School Record: 20-6

The Saints are the 2016 4A Defending State Champions, they have been solid all year not losing a game against 4A competition until the District Tournament Championship Game. The loss drops them to the No. 2 seed from the 1-4A District. Offensively, 2018 OF Jake Nelson and 2018 MIF Mike Connolley, set the table at the top of the lineup. They are protected by 2018 CIF Luke Johnson in the middle of the lineup. Nelson and Connolley are both hitting over .400 and have score over 40 runs on the season. Johnson is hitting .366 with 23 RBIs 8 doubles and a home run. The rest of the lineup is made of solid athletes that are capable offensive players. On the mound they are led by 2018 RHP Landon Brown and 2018 MIF/RHP Connor Clark. Brown has a 1.16 ERA with 80 strike outs in 42 innings, Clark has been almost as effective with a 1.64 ERA with 44 strike outs.

Overall this group is experienced, with some high level players. I have considered them a favorite to win the 4A State Title all season, I still feel this club will be in the mix again, down to the wire.

Luke Johnson, CIF, Shiloh Christian HS

No. 3 Huntsville High School Record: 24-6

The Eagles are a veteran team, which has had a great year. They are an offensive juggernaut hitting .434 as a team, hitting over 60 extra base hits on the year and averaging 7.3 runs a game. 2017 INF/RHP Jack Eaton is leading the way hitting an impressive .593 with 5 2B, 3 3B 1 HR 20 RBIs and 31 runs scored. 2017 RHP Remington Cozad has been there most consistent arm on the mound pitching 35 innings with 52 strike outs and an ERA of 3.60. 2017 RHP Dylan Harris and 2019 LHP Tad Jones will be next in line for the Eagles after Cozad, both have had solid years competing consistently in the strike zone.

Overall a veteran club with offensive fire power. They will be a tough out, if they make it past game one look out, as their offensive ability may carry them through as pitching on other rosters thin out.

No. 4 Gravette High School Record: 6-15

The Lions are a surprise group to the regional, after knocking off Prairie Grove in the opening round of the district tournament. On the mound they have leaned on two youngsters in 2019 RHP Hunter Cole and 2020 RHP Brodie Parsons. Offensively 2018 Brody Moorman has led the way hitting .311, reaching base at 1 .523 clip, and he has scored 12 runs on the season.

Overall, with a 6-15 record you would expect Gravette to exit early. That was the expectation last week as well, before they knocked off a Prairie Grove team that was playing well of late.

4-4A District

No. 1 Pottsville High School Record: 23-5

Pottsville enters the regional, playing good baseball, winners of their last 11 games. This streak includes an 8-7 win over Booneville in the District Tournament Championship. 2018 LHP/OF Greyson Stevens is leading the way for Apaches on the mound and at the plate. On the mound he has an ERA of 1.13 in 49.2 innings pitched while striking out 72. Offensively he is hitting .523 with 42 RBIs. He has shown the ability to hit for power, as he has hit 14 2B, 3 3B and 4 HR, while scoring 47 runs. On the mound they have leaned on 2018 Nick Hagerty to pitch out of the No. 2 spot. He has had a solid year with a 2.57 ERA with 39 Strike Outs in 32 innings pitched. Offensively as a unit they are hitting .374 scoring 10.75 runs per game.

Overall this is a group that was forced to play early in their career, as they have continued to get experience they have turned into contenders.

2018 LHP/OF Greyson Stevens, Pottsville HS

No. 2 Booneville High School Record: 22-6

Booneville is the 2016 3A State Championship Runner Up. Moving up classification hasn’t been too hard of an adjustment as they competed for a conference championship. The Bearcats have four two way players that have had high end production in 2017. 2017 MIF Hayden Fennel, 2017 C Brady Brasher 2019 OF/RHP Michael Hesson and 2019 OF/RHP Brandon Ulmer have been dominant all year. All have hit above .350. On the mound they have carried the load of a pitching staff with an ERA of 2.30.

This group made a run in 2016 and have plenty of weapons to make a run in 2017. Ulmer is a dynamic athlete that can push a solid team over the top.

2019 OF/RHP Brandon Ulmer, Booneville HS

No. 3 Dover High School Record: 16-10

Dover is back in the regional again in 2017, in 2016 they upset a talented Prairie Grove team and 2016 RHP Logan Grigg, (who is getting buzz for the 2017 MLB draft out of Connors State). Why is the relevant? It’s just one of many games Coach Jason McGhee has lead the Pirates to victory. They have a tough draw but will be prepared, and will have the home crowd to their advantage. 2017 CIF Seth Cheek has anchored the middle of the line up all season hitting .395 with 25 RBIs. On the mound 2019 RHP Landon O’Bryant has been the most effective pitching 47 innings with a 2.81 ERA.

Overall a program use to winning, which will compete at a high level. A tough draw with Shiloh Christian and most likely 2018 RHP Landon Brown who has been dominant.

No. 4 Dardanelle High School Record: 14-12

Dardanelle advanced to the regional by upsetting Ozark 1-0 in the first round of the district tournament. This is an athletic group that has average 7.9 runs per game on the season. They have been able to use their athleticism to make things happen stealing 91 bases on a 101 attempts. 2018 C/RHP Tate Vestal has been their best on the mound. He has pitched 34.1 innings with an ERA of 1.43 with a 3-1 strike out to walk ratio.

Overall, Dardanelle is a young roster that has had up and down results throughout the year. If they play consistent defense they could give Pea Ridge trouble in the first round.

Schedule

Thursday

10:00 Dardanelle vs Pea Ridge
12:30 Huntsville vs Booneville
3:00 Gravette vs Pottsville
5:30 Dover vs Shiloh Christian

Prediction

I am picking, Pea Ridge, Booneville, Pottsville and Shiloh Christian to all advance into the state tournament. My pick to win the North Regional is the Shiloh Christian Saints, overall just too much talent. My team which should be on upset alert is the Booneville Bearcats, as Huntsville is talented enough offensively to put up some crooked numbers to make it go down to the wire.

Regional Preview: 4A North Region

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