By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

We are less than a week away from opening day of the 2017 season. We continue to preview the teams and players that will shape the race to Championship Week End, on the campus of the University of Arkansas and Baum Stadium. We have previewed 7A through 4A and now turn our attention to 3A baseball.

Region 1
1W	4
1. Mansfield	1. Lamar
2. Greenland	2.Jessieville
3. Charleston	3. Atkins
4. Elkins	4. Paris

 

My pick to win Region 1 is the Mansfield Tigers. They will return a roster of players that gained valuable experience in 2016 finishing 3^rd in the region last year and winning a game in the state tournament before falling to eventual state champions Horatio. Look for Greenland to challenge Mansfield for the conference and regional title as they were the 2016 regional runner up to Booneville and return a solid group of athletes. Charleston and Lamar should finish out this regions state tournament qualifiers. A team I have on the outside looking in that has the potential to make some noise is Jessieville.

Region 2
2	5
1. Harding	1. Mayflower
2. Newport	2. Harmony Grove
3. Bald Knob	3. Rosebud
4. Tuckerman	4. Glen Rose

 

Harding Academy was the 2016 Regional Champions and I expect them to repeat even with the loss of several key players from that roster. They return key players including 2018 RHP/OF Peydon Harlow and 2018 MIF Pate Fullerton that play the game at a high level and should lead this team to many wins. A competive region with Mayflower, Harmony Grove and Rose Bud, all to challenge Harding Academy for a regional title. Rose Bud will have 2017 LHP Bradley Chalk which is one of the best pitchers in all of 3A baseball that will be good for at least one win. Newport is a team to watch dropping down from 4A.

 

 

Region 3
1E	3
1. Clinton	1. Riverside
2. Green Forrest	2. Manila
3. Melbourne	3. Walnut Ridge
4. Bergman	4. Rivercrest

 

This region will be greatly affected by the reclassifications. Clinton drops down from 4A and will have an instant impact with 2018 RHP/INF Ty Johnson and 2018 MIF/RHP Bryce Dodd leading the way of an athletic group that competed well in the 4A classification. Riverside moves up from 2A and will be a tough out when 2017 RHP Gavin Stone pitches. Stone is committed to UCA and will be very hard to beat in a win to advance situation. I expect Manila and Walnut Ridge to grab the other spots from this region and advance to the state tournament.

Region 4
7	8
1. Horatio	1. Smackover
2. Genoa Central	2. Junction City
3. Fouke	3. Fordyce
4. Centerpoint	4. McGehee

 

Region 4 have been a force in the 3A baseball with the state champions in 5 of the past 7 seasons including the 2016 season, where Horatio took home the state title. The Lions lost some key pieces from that roster but have seemed to reload with 2018 Wade Beasley transferring into the district, and is one of the top pitchers in any classification. He will be surrounded by a group of position players that will execute Coach Spigner’s game plan with discipline and energy. Genoa Central and Smackover will challenge for the regional title. Genoa Central will be led by a versatile two way player in 2017 RHP Tyler Moreland a big time athlete that had a dominant campaign on the mound as a junior. Smackover will in a similar spot as Genoa Central being led by 2017 RHP/OF Beau Burson, who is an advanced athlete with arm strength and a feel to pitch.

Preseason Award

Player of the Year: Wade Beasley Horatio
Pitcher of the Year: Tyler Moreland Genoa Central

P. Wade Beasley	Horatio
P. Paydon Harlo	Harding Academy
P. Gavin Stone	Riverside
P. Tyler Johnson	Clinton
P. Bradley Chalk	Rosebud
C. Gabe Parker	Fouke
1B. Hunter Davenport	Lamar
2B. Bryce Dodd	Clinton
3B. Brady Wilcox	Mayflower
SS. Pate Fullerton	Harding Academy
OF. Beau Burson	Smackover
OF. Zach Izzo	Horatio
OF. Austin Bull	Benton Harmony Grove
DH Chandler Alanis	Greenland
UTL Tyler Moreland	Genoa Central

 

Preseason Rankings

1. Harding Academy

2. Horatio

3. Clinton

4. Genoa Central

5. Mayflower

6. Riverside

7. Mansfield

8. Harmony Grove

9. Greenland

10. Smackover

11. Manila

12. Charleston

13. Rosebud

14. Fouke

15. Lamar

16. Walnut Ridge

17. Jessieville

18. Corning

19. Newport

20. Junction City

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