Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Central Arkansas Invitational Preview

March 25, 2015

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

Its Spring break and some teams headed out all over the country. Bentonville and Fayetteville are in Arizona, Bryant and Heritage are in Florida. While Green County Tech visits South Carolina and Batesville is in Alabama, just to name a few. Fortunately for PBR Arkansas some teams stayed home and are going to compete locally in tournaments. Today we preview the Central Arkansas Invitational hosted by Catholic HS.

This should be a competitive schedule with several of the top schools in the state playing in it. The overall theme of this tournament may be youth, with a lot of teams will relying heavily on play from underclassmen.

Round 1, Thursday, March 26th 

Game 1 Field Lamar Porter: Russellville HS vs Cabot HS: 12:00 PM
Both teams replace a large group of seniors from 2014 but have some talented young players. 2017 Evan Hooper OF/RHP may be the player to watch, an impressive two way player that can really run. Running a 6.55 in the 60

Game 2: Field Lamar Porter:  Catholic HS vs Eldorado HS 2:30 PM
Catholic HS will most likely turn to one of their two talented 2018 LHP in Evan Hiatt or Hank Hannah. Both have shown an aptitude to pitch at this level picking up wins against North Little Rock and Arkadelphia. Other players to watch will be Catholic HS senior catcher William Hancock, can he handle a young pitching staff and provide a steady offensive force in the middle of the lineup.

Game 3: Field Burns Park: North Little Rock HS vs Lakeside HS 12:00 PM
Lakeside and North Little Rock have both challenged themselves early playing tough schedules. North Little Rock will look to lean on lone Senior Danny Mitchell Jr., while Lakeside will need production from Juniors Brandon Hall and Jon Youngblood for the Rams to have success.

Game 4: Field: Burns Park HS Jacksonville HS vs Alma HS: 2:30 PM
Jacksonville looks to get back on track after last weeks’ rough trip to Memphis, TN losing 2 of 3. They are a senior laden group, starting 7 seniors from a state semi-final team in 2014.  Alma is a young team, with some talented underclassmen that will look to improve week to week, game to game.

Game 5: Field: Benton HS: Benton HS vs Sylvan Hills HS: 12:00 PM
This may be the best match up of the first round. Both teams have deep pitching staffs and a consistent plan at the plate. The X-factor in this game may very well be 2016 Brinson Williams, in a game sure to be a pitchers dual, he may provide the offense needed to put the Panthers over the top.

Game 6: Field Benton HS Conway HS vs Watson Chapel HS: 2:30 PM
Conway HS may be the most talented team in the tournament with a right left combination of 2015 RHP Bubba Carter and 2016 Collin Cahill. If couple that with some good young position players the Wampus Cats look tough. If they sleep on Watson Chapel they may find themselves upset with good young players and Jaylen Jackson to provide senior leadership. Jackson is a player that can change the game with one swing of the bat.

Game 7: Field Central HS: Central HS vs Arkadelphia HS: 12:00 PM
Arkadelphia is the smallest school in the tournament, being a 4A school. Don’t count them out due to abidance of talent in their 2016 class. They have solid athletes one through nine in their lineup and a group of pitchers who command the strike zone. A player to watch is 2015 MIF Lance Nolen from Central HS. The Arkansas Baptist commit will try to lead Tiger’s offense to match the depth of Arkadelphia.

Game 8: Field: Central HS: Greenwood HS vs Kickapoo HS (MO): 2:30 PM
Greenwood HS will have its hands full with Kickapoo HS as they are a consistent competitor in the Central Arkansas Classic and always a tough out. Greenwood’s roster has a good mix of upperclassmen with leadership and some talented young players.

Round 2: Thursday March 26th 2015

Game 9: Field: Lamar Porter: Loser of Game 1 vs Loser of Game 2 5:00 PM
Game 10: Field: Lamar Porter: Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2 7:30 PM
Game 11: Field : Burns Park: Loser of Game 3 vs Loser of Game 4 5:00 PM
Game 12: Field: Burns Park: Winner of Game 3 vs Winner of Game 4 7:30 PM
Game 13: Field Benton HS: Loser of Game 5 vs Loser of Game 6 5:00 PM
Game 14: Field Benton HS: Winner of Game 5 vs Winner of Game 6 7:30 PM
Game 15: Field Central HS: Loser of Game 7 vs Loser of Game 8 5:30 PM
Game 16: Field Central HS: Winner of Game 7 vs Winner of Game 8 7:30 PM

That will conclude the action for day 1 of the tournament. Check back on Friday for a full update and schedule.

Related Content

----ARunderclasstrails - ARunderclasstrails.jpg