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.

5A Central

Sylvan Hills finished last season as the 5A State Runner Up. A veteran club returns hungry to make a run back to Baum. I expect them to win the 5A Central and be a contender to win the 5A State Championship.  Little Rock Christian, Pulaski Academy, and Beebe should round out the playoff contenders from the 5A Central. Little Rock Christian lost a large senior class, but replaces them with some high end players that should be ready to carry the load and keep them in contention. 2019 C Cason Tollett will anchor the middle of the order and is a premium defensive catcher. 2018 RHP Bennett Shoptaw is a frontline starter for any team in 5A, he’ll lead the Warriors young pitching staff. 2018 RHP Layne Hatcher is the pitcher to watch for Pulaski Academy, while 2017 OF Cameron Blann is a dynamic player that will be a catalyst for their offense. 2017 INF Carson McNeil will anchor Beebe’s offense that will swing their way into the state playoffs.

5A East

Greene County Tech has been a consistently at the top of 5A East. 2017 doesn’t look to end their reign. They have a large senior class, including 2017 RHP Drew Mullins and 2017 RHP Chase Hutson will be the stabilizers to the pitching staff. Offensively look for 2017 CIF Colby Boyd to anchor the offense. After GCT look for Wynne, Valley View, and Batesville to round out the teams advancing to the state tournament. Wynne will be lead on the mound by 2017 RHP Hunter Taylor, offensively expect 2017 C Brady Taylor and 2017 MIF Luke McFadden to pace them offensively. Valley View will lean on 2017 LHP Sam Das, followed by some new faces in the pitching staff. Offensively look for 2017 OF Joe Walezonia to be the catalyst for their offense at the top of the lineup. Batesville is a veteran team that will compete at a high level. Teams to watch to make the playoffs will be Nettleton and Paragould. Nettleton has a dynamic two way player in PJ Hilson, which is a difference maker. Paragould is led by 2017 RHP/INF Matt Lawrence who will give the Rams a chance to win nightly.

5A South

Magnolia is the 5A defending state champion, and return most of their roster from 2016.  They will again be very competitive in a competitive 5A South. I am picking Watson Chapel to win the 5A South. The Wildcats have two front line starters with 2017 RHP Hayden Arnold and 2018 LHP Kaleb Hill, both have upper 80s fastballs with advanced pitchabilty. 2018 OF Jakobi Jackson has big time juice and will be surrounded by a versatile group of athletes that can adapt to whatever the offensive game plan needs to be. Magnolia, White Hall and Lakeside round out the group of teams that I predict to earn state tournament bids. Magnolia will be paced by 2017 INF/RHP Matt Goodheart. Goodheart is the complete competitor with a compact left-handed swing, plus athleticism and advanced pitch ability on the mound. White Hall will look to make another run into the state tournament lead by 2017 OF Chase Bryan and 2018 C/RHP Layne Hartsfield.

5A West

Greenbrier looks to be the favorite to win the 5A South. They are deep on the mound, and with middle of the order bats. 2017 3B/RHP Paxton Wallace will anchor the middle of the lineup and pitch out of the No.2 slot in their rotation. 2017 LHP Hunter Milligan will be a key for this group on the mound and hit in the middle of the order as well. Greenbrier is very talented but no one in the 5A west is going to roll out the red carpet and just give them the league title. Alma, Vilonia and Farmington all look like the teams to compete for a tournament berth. Alma returns a solid core of players returning from the 2016 roster that competed in the 6A State tournament. Vilonia has a talented group that gained valuable experience from 2016, they should turn that experience into enough wins to punch their ticket. Farmington will look to 2017 RHP/CIF Tyler Gregg to carry a big load and help them win enough to get in. Gregg has a big arm, with the ability to pitch in the upper 80s and has shown pull power as a hitter. Harrison and Maumelle will be in the mix as well. Maumelle has a bevy of talent, if they put it together they will have a chance to get steal a spot behind 2018 RHP Connor McCullough and 2017 RHP/CIF Shelby Quiggins. Harrison is young and unproven but never count them out as Coach Greg Crow always seems to find away in the tournament.

Conference Predictions

5A Central	5A East
1. Sylvan Hills	1. Greene County Tech
2. LR Christian	2. Wynne
3. Pulaski Academy	3. Valley View
4. Beebe	4. Batesville
5.Parkview	5. Nettleton
6. McCellan	6. Paragould
7. Mills	7. Byltheville
8. JA Fair	8. Forrest City

 

5A South	5A West
1. Watson Chapel	1. Greenbrier
2. Magnolia	2. Alma
3. White Hall	3. Vilonia
4. Lakeside	4. Farmington
5. Hope	5.Harrison
6. DeQueen	6. Maumelle
7. Camden Fairview	7. Morrilton
8. Hot Springs	8. Clarksville

 

Preseason Awards

Player of the Year : Nick Farkouri	Player of the Year: PJ Hilson
Pitcher of the Year: Bennett Shoptaw	Pitcher of the Year: Drew Mullins
P. Bennett Shoptaw- LRCA	P. Drew Mullins-Greene Co. Tech
P. Ryan Lumpkin-Sylvan Hills	P.  Hunter Taylor-Wynne
P. Nick Farkouri-Sylvan Hills	P. Chase Hutson-Greene Co Tech
P. River Hunt-Sylvan Hills	P. Sam Das- Valley View
P. Layne Hatcher-Pulaski Academy	P. Matt Lawerence-Paragould
C. Cason Tollett-LRCA	C. Brady Taylor-Wynne
1B. Noah Jolly-Beebe	1B. Colby Boyd- Greene Co. Tech
2B. Carson McNeil-Beebe	2B. Preston Hart-Greene Co. Tech
3B. Zachary Douglas-Sylvan Hills	3B. Taylor Ford-Batesville
SS. Michael Coven-Sylvan Hills	SS. Luke McFadden-Wynne
OF. MJ Loggins-LRCA	OF.  RJ Jeffrey-Batesville
OF. Cameron Blann-Pulaski Academy	OF. Joe Walezonia-Valley View
OF. Trey Harris-LRCA	OF. Tyler Sims-Blytheville
DH. Willam Chaz Poppy-Sylvan Hills	DH. Logan Holman- Batesville
UTL. Caleb McMunn-Sylvan Hills	UTL. PJ Hilson-Nettleton

 

Player of the Year: Matt Goodheart	Player of the Year: Paxton Wallace
Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Arnold	Pitcher of the Year: Hunter Milligan
P. Hayden Arnold-Watson Chapel	P. Hunter Milligan-Greenbrier
P. Kaleb Hill-Watson Chapel	P. Connor McCullough-Maumelle
P. Jameson-Milner-Camden Fairview	P. Parker Edwards-Alma
P. Austin Stubber-Hope	P. Tyler Gregg-Farmington
P. Kaden Tollett-DeQueen	P. Cody Mitchell-Vilonia
C. Zac Meluguin-Lakeside	C. Christopher Bass-Vilonia
1B.  Blake Hence-Watson Chapel	1B. Drake Vinyard-Farmington
2B. Braylein Hence-Watson Chapel	2B. Nick Howard-Vilonia
3B. Matt Goodheart-Magnolia	3B. Paxton Wallace-Greenbrier
SS. Parker Ribble- Magnolia	SS. Ryan Flake- Greenbrier
OF. Chase Bryan-White Hall	OF.Kiesler Nye-Alma
OF. Jakobi Jackson-Watson Chapel	OF. Tanner Albillar-Morrilton
OF. Jay French-Magnolia	OF.Quinn Cherry- Harrison
DH. John Dawson- Camden Fairview	DH. Caden Wallace-Greenbrier
UTL. Layne Hartsfield-White Hall	UTL. Shelby Quiggins-Maumelle

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