Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Season Preview: Harding Academy

February 28, 2015

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

Head Coach: Shane Fullerton
High School: Harding Academy
Conference:  3 2A
Mascot: Wildcats

PBR: What are your expectations for your team this spring?

Coach Fullerton: We are young and excited.  We have one senior and only 2 sophomores.  The rest of our roster is full of freshmen and juniors.  We believe that we are talented though.  As with all young teams who have some talent, we could finish this season with lots of success.  To do that, though, we have to mature and take steps in the right direction every day.

PBR: Who is going to be your key contributors on the mound this spring?

Coach Fullerton: Alex Francis, Bryce Bartlett, Reid Maddox and J. Paul Fullerton will all need to throw quality innings for us as juniors.  Peydon Harlow and Dalton Koch are two freshmen who will also get innings and could prove to be go-to guys.  Junior Noah Holt and freshman Pate Fullerton could also log some innings.  These guys will all have to battle for opportunities.  We need three starters and two relievers to emerge as real competitors on the mound.

PBR: For your offense to be effective who do you expect to set the table? Who do you expect to drive in runs?

Coach Fullerton: Junior Alex Francis, and freshmen Dalton Koch, Peydon Harlow, and Pate Fullerton are guys we are leaning toward in the 1-2 holes.  Juniors Noah Holt, J. Paul Fullerton and Bryce Bartlett should have lots of opportunities to drive I runs.  Griffin Metheny, Ty Mote, and Jacob Bolding are guys who could compete for the 3-6 holes as well.

PBR: Which Underclassmen do you need to step up and fill a void by last year’s seniors?

Coach Fullerton:  We had 3 seniors who played major roles for us last year.  Sophomore Griffin Metheny, and freshmen Fullerton, Harlow, Koch and Brett Kernodle are guys who could or should make an impact.

PBR: Who is the team to beat in your conference/ your classification?

Coach Fullerton: In our conference Bald Knob could be better than they have ever been.  I feel that they finished last season playing well.  Cedar Ridge is new to our conference and could make some noise.  We wouldn’t take Rose Bud for granted in any way either.  In the state I think Smackover, Genoa Central, Fordyce will be teams to beat.  Mayflower is younger than they have been but Coach Albritton could always put together a great one.

PBR: What is your biggest non-conference game and why? 

Coach Fullerton: Man, I really don’t know how I could disseminate between Smackover, Genoa and Mayflower.  Those guys will all be huge competitors in our region and the state.

Related Content

----ARPPECCARK - ARFPEC.jpg