State Championship Preview: 4A

May 21, 2015

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The 4A Final will be between two teams that are familiar with each other Star City HS played Arkadelphia HS in the South Regional Semi-Finals. Star City beat Arkadelphia 8-7 in eight innings to advance to the finals. Star City fell to Hamburg in the finals, while Arkadelphia beat Ashdown in the consolation game to secure the No. 3 seed in the tournament. The regional set this crash course in motion and it should be a great game to kick off the State Finals at 10:00 am Friday, May 22^nd.

Arkadelphia is defending back to back state championship, while Star City is trying to win the school’s first state championship in baseball and first male state championship since 1990.

Pitching

Arkadelphia HS: Arkadelphia has a deep pitching staff filled with multiple arms that pound the strike zone. In a one game setting expect 2016 LHP Brandon Matros to get the ball. Matros is a 6-foot, 190 pound left-hander with advance pitchabilty, locating three pitches for strikes. Out of the bullpen expect to see 2016 CIF/Ty Koster, Koster is a bulldog on the mound that pounds the bottom half of the strike zone.

Star City HS: Star City has two right-handers, 2016 Garry Hill and 2016 Blake Wynn, that have been dominate this spring. Wynn is primarily a two pitch guy with a fastball 84-86 mph with arm-side run. He compliments his fastball with an 11/5 curveball with late break. Hill’s fastball sets 85-87 mph and touches 88 mph. His secondary stuff is good when he stays on top of the curveball.

Hitting

Arkadelphia HS: The Badgers offensive is deep with long athletic players that have a sound approach. The stand outs of this group are 2016 CIF Ty Koster and 2015 MIF Clay Wilson. Koster has middle of the order power with the ability to hit the ball to all fields. Wilson is a sound athlete with a short compact swing, with pull side power. He hit the go ahead homerun in the semi-finals against Shiloh Christian.

Star City HS: The Bulldogs have a solid offense, a little top heavy but the first 5 hitters in the lineup, are as tough as you find in high school baseball. The middle of the order is dynamic with 2016 C Austin Powell and 2016 CIF Austin Capps. Powell is a complete hitter with the ability to hit the ball all over the yard. Capps has raw power that has the ability to hit the ball deep on any pitch.

Defense

Arkadelphia HS: Arkadelphia has high level defender in 2016 MIF Cutter Jester. Jester is a fleet footed short-stop that plays through the ball, with a quick exchange and an accurate arm. Behind the plate 2016 C Danny Joe Spradlin runs the show an average receiver that has a strong accurate arm. Overall Arkadelphia has good athletes that understand defending is the key to winning and they have won a lot.

Star City HS: Star City’s defense starts with 2016 C Austin Powell. Powell blocks and receives at an advanced level, he has quick exchange with a strong accurate arm. This year he has shut down opponents run game. 2016 INF/OF Cole Muckelroy has been a good defender whether he is playing short stop or running balls down in the outfield.

State Championship Preview: 4A

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