The Arkansas high school baseball season kicks off on Feb. 26, opening day for regular season action under AAA regulations. Leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2024 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Arkansas Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Arkansas
Head Coach: Trent Wilson (8)
Classification: 5A
2023 Record: 21-5, 5A-South Conference Champion, State Semi-Finalist

 

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2024 SEASON OUTLOOK

No. of Returning Starters:

4

Top Returning Players:

Ryan Wardlaw - Senior-SS/P-6'-175 lb.-Bats Right-Throws Right-Was vital to our teams success last season. Led the team with a .490 average last year including a couple of home runs. Will be a conference starter on the mound, locates pitches well, and can work up to mid 80s. Ran a 6.7 60 in the fall. Signed with Henderson State University in the fall.

Nathan Wall - Senior-Utility-5'11"-170 lb.-Bats Right-Throws Right-Emerged as one of the best third basemen in the conference last year. Has the ability to play any position on the field. Will be expected to play 3B/SS/OF/P this season. Swings the bat well and has flashed 4.5 40 times in the fall during football season (starting QB). Nate is a leader and is one of the hardest workers I've coached.

Lee Smith - Senior-C/OF-5'10"-175 lb.-Bats Right-Throws Right-After having a great year in the outfield for our team last season Lee will move behind the dish as our starting catcher this year. He's extremely coachable, is a team first guy, and is one of those players some would describe as scrappy. We expect him to hit in the upper portion of our lineup and build off of the success he had in 2023.

Jonathan Infante Garcia - Junior-P/OF-5'9"-180 lb.-Bats Right-Throws Right-Had a phenomenal season on the mound as a sophomore last season. Came in relief in the first round of the state tournament last season and helped extend our state tournament run. Will be expected to be our ace on the mound this year. Has improved his off speed pitches and will show mid 80's velocity with his fastball. Has the ability to pitch at the next level and truly devotes his life to the game of baseball.

Top Newcomers:

Maverick Adcock - Soph.-IF/P-5'9" 150 lb. Bats Right-Throws Right-Showed signs of being a great defensive player last year as a freshmen. Has great hands, is a great communicator in the infield, and has the ability to throw strikes on the mound. Maverick has a great work-ethic and devotes much of his time to baseball.

Bralon Thompson - Freshman-OF-6' 165 lb.-Bats Left-Throws Left-Expected to start as a freshmen in centerfield. Runs very well and has a very effortless and smooth swing at the plate. Has the ability to hit the ball from gap to gap and runs bases well. We're excited about Braylon's future and look forward to watching him develop into an elite level player.

Coach’s Insight:

“I believe the strength of our team will be our defense. We have some tough kids that make routine plays and are willing to get dirty. I'm most concerned with our lack of experience as a team. We will have some young guys in the lineup this season, and it may take some time for them to adjust to the high level competition the 5A South brings. ” – Trent Wilson, head coach

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Find more information on the 2024 Arkansas High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @ArkHighBaseball.
+ Visit Prep Baseball Arkansas’ 2024 AAA Season Preview page to learn more.

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