6A South Season Preview
February 16, 2016
By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director
The 6A south conference champion and conference runner up met last spring in the state finals. Sheridan was the No. 2 seed in state tournament behind Benton who they defeated in a 10-9 thriller at Baum Stadium to end the 2015 season. This is a typical year for a conference with some of the most dominant baseball programs in all classifications.
Pitching
Benton: Benton returns a veteran staff that has had the success a group could ask for, expect the elusive state championship. They came close in 2015 losing to Sheridan in the State Finals. This group is led by 2016 LHP Drew Dyer. Dyer is a physical left-hander with an upper 80’s fastball and solid secondary pitches. Depth shouldn’t be a problem with several seniors logging significant innings over the past two season.
El Dorado: This will be the pitching staff to watch in 2016. This group is young but Coach Sam Tyler feels will develop into a very talented group. The question for this year is will they develop soon enough to compete in a tough league
Lake Hamilton: 2016 RHP Ryan Sinclair will led this pitching staff. The right-hander understands how to change speed and planes on a consistent basis. He will receive support from 2016 LHP Gunnar Williams. Williams is a soft left-hander who has the ability to baffle hitters with solid stuff and the ability to pound the strike zone with three pitches.
Pine Bluff: The Zebras are fortunate to have one of the best pitchers in the conference to lead their staff in 2017 RHP Jalen Deshazier. Deshazier is a polished right-hander with a fastball 84-87 mph and a breaking ball with 12/6 action with late break and sharp break. The question will be if they can find a solid No. 2 starter.
Sheridan: The defending state champions return a majority of their roster from their team in 2015. However they did lose the No. 1 of that pitching staff in 2015 RHP Tyler Raney who was a bulldog and provided great leadership. Talent won’t be an issue with this pitching staff, the question is if they can find the pitcher to win the big games.
Texarkana: The Razorbacks will lean on 2016 RHP Patrick Flannigan. Flannigan is a Crowder College commit who works off his fastball 84-86 mph with solid secondary pitches. If they compete for the conference title they need to find consistency after Flannigan.
Hitting
Benton: A talented offensive unit led by two of the best hitters in the state. 2016 C Brinson Williams and 2016 OF Colten Nix. Williams is a solid catcher with pull power and the ability to hit the ball to the opposite field for average. Nix is a versatile athlete with plus bat speed and a feel for the barrel. Both these players have had a decorated career and NCAA division I signees, Williams to UCA and Nix to Arkansas State. Back to back conference championships will be icing on the cake.
El Dorado: A young group that will look for 2016 OF Rhett Connor for leadership. Connor is extremely athletic with advanced bat speed. He will anchor the outfield and will hope to spark an offense, looking for consistent performers.
Lake Hamilton: 2016 INF Gip Burrows will lead this offensive attack. Burrows has a compact line drive swing with the ability to hit ball to all fields. Burrows is a an old school player who plays the game the right way, if the rest of this unit will follow his lead they will be a tough out night in and night out.
Pine Bluff: A group that will be looking for looking for identity this spring after graduation and a few transfers across town to Watson Chapel. Pine Bluff is a storied baseball program and should bounce back with a talented group of juniors and sophomores.
Sheridan: A group that swung their way through the state tournament and return several players from that talented roster including State Tournament MVP Hunter Hicks. Hicks is a 2018 infielder with a line drive swing and an advanced feel and approach. Hicks should receive support from 2017 INF David Vilches, 2017 MIF Nick Whitley and 2017 C/OF McKinley Williams.
Texarkana: A group that is recovering from losing several seniors in the 2015 class. They still have some talent left on an always talented program. Look for key performers to be Blake Rico, Cody Yetzn Cameron Robinson, and Jaylen Moss. Moss will be the driving force at the top of the lineup, with his superior athleticism.
Overall
A very competitive conference, with a solid group of teams. The six teams above should make the state tournament. Little Rock Hall and Little Rock Parkview will miss the state tournament. The rest of the league will battle it out every week for seeding,
Pick
I am picking the Benton Panthers to win the 6A. This veteran group should be focused to make a run deep in the state tournament. Most of this group has been a major part of the Panthers success the past four years, I don’t see this group taking anything for granted in the 2016.
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