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 preview 7A, 6A, and 5A, now we turn our attention to 4A.

4A North
4A-1	4A-4
Shiloh Christian	Booneville
Pea Ridge	Pottsville
Huntsville	Ozark
Prairie Grove	Dover

 

The 4A North region will be very competitive this spring. Shiloh Christian is the 2016 4A State Champion, they return the majority of their roster. On the mound they will look to 2018 RHP Landon Brown to be their No.1. Brown is a physical right-hander with an upper 80s fastball and a solid breaking ball. 2018 MIF/RHP Connor Clark will be a key factor as a short stop and pitch significant innings. In the middle of their line up look for 2018 CIF Luke Johnson is a physical presence that I expect to have a break out year.
I have picked Shiloh as the preseason favorite in the 4A North Region.

Conference foe Pea Ridge may be the biggest challenge in the region. They have two quality starters on the mound with 2017 LHP Cole Wright and 2019 RHP Tyler Odell. The Blackhawks will use a deep athletic group of position players to compete offensively. 2018 INF/C/RHP Jakota Sainsbury is a player to watch in their offense.

Booneville is my pick to win the 4A-4, they return the majority of their line up from the 2016 3A State runner up campaign they put together. 2019 OF/RHP/INF Brandon Ulmer will lead the way for the Bearcats both offensively on the mound. A solid group that expects to win, they should challenge and find a way into the state tournament.

Pottsville has played with young players the previous two season, expect them to reap the rewards in 2017 as they compete for a conference championship and a state tournament berth.

4A East
4A-2	4A-3
CAC	Gosnell
Stuttgart	Trumann
Lonoke	Pocahontas
Heber Springs	Brookland

 

The 4A East will have a solid group and should a competitive 8 team field. I predict Central Arkansas Christian will win this region. They return the majority of their roster which won the regional in 2016. This group will be led by 2017 RHP/INF Braden Queisenberry, 2017 C Tanner Weber, and 2017 OF/RHP Hunter Corbel.

Gosnell finished runner up in the region in 2016 and returns the majority of their roster as well. Expect this talented group of athletes to be in the mix again, as they should win the 4A-3 again this season.

Stuttgart looks to be back in the mix with return of Coach Kevin Youngblood. The last time coach Youngblood coached the Ricebird they were in Baum Stadium, finishing as the 4A State Runner Ups. His energy coupled with a solid core of returning talent makes this a dangerous unit. 2017 RHP/INF Cole Morgan will give them a shot on mound against anyone and is a versatile offensive player. 2019 C John Austin Hoskyns will give them a middle of the order bat to be feared.

I expect Lonoke to advance out of the regional tournament, led by 2017 MIF Casey Martin. Martin is the No.1 ranked player in the state of Arkansas. He will anchor the middle of their defense as a shutdown defender, offensively he has shown the combination of speed and power. He will be surrounded by solid core of position players, 2017 OF Haven Hunter, 2017 MIF/RHP Caleb Horton and 2018 CIF/RHP Kade Stuart. If this group finds consistent pitching they may swing it well enough to upset some teams.

4A South
4A-7	4A-8
Ashdown	Monticello
Robinson	Hamburg
Nashville	Star City
Bauxite	Crossett

 

The 4A South has been a dominant force in the 4A baseball landscape over the past 5 years winning 4 of the 5 state championships and sending a team or multiple teams to the state finals the past 5 season. Look for this year to be no different maybe just a few different names representing them.

Ashdown is finished as the state runner-up in 2016 to Shiloh Christian. They lost several off that talented club but, on paper have the look of reloading. 2016 RHP/3B Jaden Hill will look to replace the innings on the mound lost with the graduation of Austin Cross. Hill is an imposing force a 6-foot-5 with a fastball up to 92 mph. He will partner with 2017 RHP Tajhnick Bishop as a tough 1-2 punch on the mound. Offensively they have a solid group of returners with 2017 OF/INF Bryson Haskins sitting the table at the top, Bishop and Hill will also look to impact the team offensively. Another name to know is 2018 C Alex Day. Day has shown a knack for getting on base an occasional pull power.

The Panthers will be challenged by a new look Robinson High School and a veteran club at Nashville. Robinson has three new additions to their roster in 2016 that has them looking like a team to beat. 2017 RHP Austin Kelly that possesses a fastball which works up to 92 mph coupled with three quality pitches will be featured as their No. 1. 2017 CIF Garret Misenhiemer will be a new addition that will be a middle of the order bat as he was one of the better offensive players at 7A Bryant High School last spring. The final new name is 2020 Luke Pectol who is a versatile athlete that can play multiple position defensively and is advanced offensive player.

Nashville has been young the previous two season. Coach Slayton will be rewarded in 2017 with a solid year and a state tournament berth. This group features a roster of hard-nosed baseball players which compete at a high level. 2017 RHP Preston Pope will compete for the team on the mound with advanced pitch ability. Their position players are deep with experience look for 2017 C Dalton Smead, 2017 INF Zach Jamison, and 2018 MIF Chris Willard to lead the way.

Bauxite and Monticello will be an intriguing matchup in round 1 of the regional tournament, Monticello is deep with talent, while Bauxite is improved but will have 2017 RHP Hunter Geatrueax on the mound which will give them a chance to beat anyone, in a win and advance setting. 

Preseason Rankings

1. Shiloh Christian

2. Ashdown

3. Robinson

4. Pea Ridge

5. CAC

6. Nashville

7. Stuttgart

8. Booneville

9.Gosnell

10. Monticello

11. Pottsville

12. Lonoke

13. Bauxite

14. Huntsville

15. Trumann

16. Heber Springs

17. Hamburg

18. Ozark

19. Prairie Grove

20. Pocahontas

 
Preseason Awards and All State Selections

Player of the Year: Casey Martin
Pitcher of the Year: Austin Kelly
P. Austin Kelly	Robinson
P. Landon Brown	Shiloh Christian
P. Cole Wright	Pea Ridge
P. Cole Morgan	Stuttgart
P. Alex Langley	Riverview
C. John Hoskyns	Stuttgart
1B. Luke Johnson	Shiloh Christian
2B. Connor Clark	Shiloh Christian
3B.Garrett Misenhimer	Robinson
SS. Casey Martin	Lonoke
OF. Tajhnick Bishop	Ashdown
OF. Bradon Ulmer	Booneville
OF. Bryson Haskins	Ashdown
DH. Alex Day	Ashdown
UTL. Jaden Hill	Ashdown