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 move from our coverage of the 7A Central to the 7A West and Bentonville High School.

Bentonville was the 2015 State Champion and was a front runner to win the 7A State finals in 2016. They fell to Catholic High School 8-6 in the second round of the state tournament. With the 2016 graduation class the Tigers lost a lot. Key players were 2016 RHP Kasey Ford (Kansas State) 2016 RHP Carter Brown (Little Rock) and 2016 RHP Drew Young (Central Arkansas). This will be the big question in 2017, who is going to make the jump to fill those innings.

Pitching

2017 RHP Jacob Williams will take the reins as the leader of the pitching staff. Williams is a capable frontline guy with a fastball that works 84-86 mph, complimented by a 12/6 curveball with late action. After Williams is unknown, they may turn to talented position players such as 2018 3B/RHP Nathan Lyons and 2018 MIF Kam’Ron Mays-Hunt. Both have shown the ability to pitch at a high level. If this group develops into a competitive group they will give the Tigers a shot to compete for the 7A West conference championship.

Offensively

2018 3B/RHP Nathan Lyons and 2018 OF/1B Tyler Johnson will be the centerpiece of the offense. Johnson is the premiere left-handed hitter in the state of Arkansas. He committed to Arkansas over the summer. Lyons is a physical athletes with advanced bat speed that produces consistently. Other names to know 2017 MIF Justin Hines, 2018 MIF Kam’Ron Mays-Hunt. A name that may pop up throughout the spring is 2019 MIF/OF Jackson Huskey who has shown to be an advanced left-handed hitter.

Overall

Bentonville will be one of the more dynamic offseason unit in the state, with loads of experience players returning from 2017. The key will be how quickly they will be able to finish out the pitching rotation and how consistent their arms can be. If they stabilize the pitching rotation they will challenge for the 7A West conference title.