Regional Preview: 4A

May 6, 2015

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

Regional Tournaments: Win and Advance: That’s the motto coaches will be stressing to their teams over next two days as teams prepare for their respective regional. Today we preview the 3 4A regionals.

North Regional

Favorite: Ozark High School: A strong pitching staff that has an ERA of 1.51, could be the ticket for Ozark to bring home a regional title. When it comes to winning 3 games in 4 days you have to look at pitching depth and that is something Ozark has shown consistently. The fact that they have at least one victory over every opponent in the regional except Shiloh Christian HS should give the Hillbillies confidence. They did not play Shiloh Christian in the regular season.

Challengers: Shiloh Christian High School; the 1-4A regular season champion could challenge. They have multi-talented RHP/INF Luke Bandy and RHP Jake Reindle (Arkansas Commit) to lead a young but talented team. Pea Ridge; Is playing really well right now, beating Shiloh easily May 4^th in the District Finals 10-2, and has split on the season with Ozark. Clinton, like Pea Ridge has split with Ozark on the season. Clinton is veteran group that plays hard and is well coached, always a tough out.

Cinderella: Dover High School: Dover was a lower seed going into their district tournament, and won two games just to advance to a regional. A team that is trending upward and has the very talented 2016 OF Luke Price leading them offensively. In a win or go home setting Dover may be a tough draw.

4A North Regional	At Dover High School
10:00 AM W1 Pea Ridge HS	4th-4 Dover HS
12:30 PM 2nd-4 Clinton HS	3rd-1 Prairie Grove HS
3:00 PM W4 Ozark HS	4th-1 Gravette HS
5:30 PM 2nd-1 Shiloh Christian HS	3rd-4 Robinson HS

East Regional

Favorite: Pocahontas High School: Pocahontas has been as tough as anyone in the state. I don’t look for the host to slip up in the regional. The Redskins are playing good baseball lately with non-conference wins over Batesville HS and ended Walnut-Ridges’ 22 game win streak on May 4^th.

Challengers: Lonoke High School: Lonoke is short a dominate arm, but if they can survive the opening round against Trumann, they will be hard to handle with a stable of pitchers who can command the strike zone and a deep offensive group. 2017 OF/INF Casey Martin Sets the table for this group. He is an athletic player that controls the bat well and hits the ball to all field. 2015, INF Cody Martin, 2015 INF Nick Graves and 2015 INF/RHP Christian James anchor down a productive middle of the order.

Cinderella: Newport High School: Newport played there way in to the regionals at the district tournament. In a year that has been up and down for the Greyhounds, their veteran leadership may be enough to punch a ticket to the state tournament.

4A East Regional	At Pocahontas High School
10:00 AM W2 Lonoke HS	4th-3 Trumann HS
12:30 PM 2nd 3 Gosnell HS	3rd-2 Stuggart HS
3:00 PM W3 Pocahontas HS	4th-2 Central Ark Christian
5:30 PM 2nd 2 Newport HS	3rd-3 Brookland HS

South Regional:

Favorite: Arkadelphia High School: The two time defending state champions, have to be the favorite. This may seem unusual considering they lost May 4^th in the district finals to rival Ashdown. I still believe they are too deep on the mound and at the plate to be beaten in a one game setting. Offensively they are led by 2016 3B Ty Koster. Koster is a large frame physical player that shows the ability to hit for power to all fields. Experience is key for this group, their core was played in three district title games, two regional title games and two state championship games, and were successful in all but one. Look for them to bounce back this week.

Challenger: Ashdown High School: It’s an obvious choice due to the recent upset of Arkadelphia and they are the defending state runner up. Star City High School: Star City has three upper echelon players with RHP/OF Garry Hill, RHP/INF C Austin Powell, and RHP/INF Blake Wynn, all are 2016 graduates. If the supporting cast can get do enough the Bulldogs may be a tough out.

Cinderella: Bauxite High School: Bauxite is a team in the first round, due to 2015 RHP/OF Ben Madison. Madison is 6-foot-1 RHP/OF the most versatile player in the state. Off the mound he is 87-90 mph with a sharp slider. Offensively he has shown the ability to hit for power and average, while playing center field he has been a defensive specialist. For Star City in the first round, they will not need to worry about him in center-field, because there is no doubt who the Miners will throw.

4A South Regional	At Malvern High School
11:00 AM W7 Ashdown HS	4th-8 Crossett HS
1:30 PM 2nd-8 Hamburg HS	3rd- 7 Nashville HS
4:00 PM W8 Star City HS	4th-7 Bauxite HS
6:30 PM 2nd 7 Arkadelphia HA	3rd-8 Monticello HS

Regional Preview: 4A

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