Campus Series: Little Rock 16U Game 1

September 10, 2017

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The first week end of our campus series kicked off on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, with three teams of underclassmen from all corners of the state. It was a good day to grade out players from the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 classes. I always enjoy getting a good look at the future of Arkansas high school baseball.

Game 1 Sticks Baseball Academy White 8 vs Fort Smith Baseball Academy 16U 2

Fort Smith Baseball Academy jumped out to an early 2-0 lead scoring one in the 1^st and 2^nd inning before pitching for Sticks Baseball took over to shut them out for the next 5 innings.

2021 Payton Byrd threw shutout innings. His fastball worked 76-78 with slight sink, he commanded it consistently in the bottom half of the strike zone. He also threw a curveball 65 mph with 11/5 shape and gradual break. He relied mainly on his fastball to have success. The solid pitching continued when 2020 LHP Jack Hayley came in locating two pitches for a strike. His fastball worked 74-76 mph and curveball was thrown 62-64 mph with late 1/7 break.

Offensively the Sticks took advantage of 8 walks and 2 errors, to push across 8 runs. 2020 OF Kaleb Fisher had a solid day with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored, to lead the offensive assault.

Fisher is a 5-foot-10 170-pound outfielder with an athletic frame and build. He showed quick twitch as a runner and outfielder. Defensively he played through the baseball with fluid footwork, he used a normal exchange with a short arm action, and an accurate arm. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance with minimum load stride combination, he uses a line drive swing with rotation.

Brett Ward had a solid day or Fort Smith Baseball, recording one hit and making loud contact on a ball driven to centerfield. Ward is a 5-foot-10 180-pound corner infielder with a solid frame and an athletic build. He played through the baseball with normal footwork and exchange he threw the baseball accurately across the infield. Offensively he attacks the baseball with normal bat speed from an athletic stance, and simple mechanics.

2020 C Dakatoh Peters is an intriguing prospect for FSBA, as he has a large frame and showed advanced bat speed. Defensively he showed normal receiving skills, while blocking with consistent effort. There were limited opportunities to see him throw, in between innings arm showed carry.

Campus Series: Little Rock 16U Game 1

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