By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The 2017 season is rapidly approaching. As we get closer to season, I begin my preview of each team and stories that will affect the overall results of the high school season, and who will ultimately end their season in Baum Stadium on the campus of the University of Arkansas. We turn our coverage to the 5A classification, maybe the deepest classification of competitive baseball in the state.

State Champions

I predict that Greenbrier High School will win the 5A State Championship. 2017 LHP/CIF Hunter Milligan and 2017 RHP/CIF Paxton Wallace give the Panthers a dominant 1-2 punch on the mound and in the middle of their order. Both players possesses a fastball into the upper 80’s and have shown the ability to command their secondary pitches consistently. Offensively they have shown the ability to consistently hit for power. They will be surrounded by a veteran group that has enough experience to maneuver through the state tournament. I knew name to know on this roster is 2020 CIF/RHP Caden Wallace. Wallace is an advanced hitter with raw power, on the mound he pounds the strike zone with his fastball 82-84 mph and solid secondary pitches. If he can adjust to high school baseball fast enough, I think he will add depth enough to push them over the top.

Preseason Rankings

Overall Poll

1. Greenbrier

2. Watson Chapel

3. Magnolia

4. Sylvan Hills

5. Greene County Tech

6. Alma

7. Little Rock Christian

8. Vilonia

9. Wynne

10. White Hall

11. Farmington

12. Valley View

13. Lakeside

14. Batesville

15. Pulaski Academy

16. Beebe

17. Harrison

18. Maumelle

19. Nettleton

20. Hope

 

Preseason Awards

Player of the Year: Paxton Wallace

Pitcher of the Year: Hunter Milligan

P. Hunter Milligan-Greenbrier

P. Hayden Arnold-Watson Chapel

P. Kaleb Hill- Watson Chapel

P. Bennett Shoptaw-LRCA

P. Drew Mullins- Greene Co Tech

C. Cason Tollett- LRCA

1B. Paxton Wallace-Greenbrier

2B. Matt Goodheart-Magnolia

3B. Parker Ribble-Magnolia

SS. Ryan Flake-Greenbrier

OF. Chase Bryan-White Hall

OF. Jakobi Jackson-Watson Chapel

OF. Quinn Cherry-Harrison

DH. Nick Farkouri-Sylvan Hills

UTL PJ Hilson-Nettleton