State Tournament Preview: 4A

May 11, 2016

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The best week of high school baseball is finally here—the State Tournament starts in all classifications on Thursday. Team will compete for the next three days before getting some time off before finishing the season up at Baum Stadium, with Championship week end.

Thursday May 12th Round 1

10:00 AM Hamburg vs Lonoke

Hamburg has been nearly unbeatable this season with 2016 LHP Drake Streeter on the mound. The Arkansas Monticello commit mixes three different pitches in any counts and keeps hitters off balance. 2016 OF Darien Burns help generate enough offense for the Lions to advance. If Lonoke upends Hamburg 2017 MIF Casey Martin had a big day. Martin is talented enough to propel the Jack Rabbits to a victory.

Prediction: Hamburg

12:30 PM Pottsville vs Crossett

Crossett will ride 2016 RHP Hunter Welch on the mound. He has given the Eagles a chance to win on all year long I don’t expect to this to be any different. Coach McCrotty has this young Pottsville team playing well, expect big things from them over the next few years, but this year expect a dominant senior pitcher to win the day.

Prediction: Crossett

3:00 PM Gosnell vs Dover

Dover has played well all year, but struggled twice last week in the regional tournament. I expect the veteran club to get back on track against a young but talented Gosnell team. Dover will pitch 2016 RHP Christian Ewing and should receive key offensive production from 2016 OF Luke Price.

Prediction: Dover

5:30 PM Arkadelphia vs Westside

Arkadelphia is too talented, they win convincingly with the senior class of 7 college signees leading the way.

Prediction: Arkadelphia

May 13^th Round 2

10:00 AM Shiloh Christian vs Winner of G1 (Hamburg)

If both teams were pitching their frontline guy, I would give Hamburg the advantage. Hamburg lacks the pitching depth to survive and advance and Shiloh has plenty. Shiloh will throw 2016 LHP Gunner Gilbert in game one as long as he commands the strike zone with his swing and miss curveball Shiloh advances.

Prediction: Shiloh Christian

12:30 PM CAC vs Crossett

CAC will have a huge advantage with the first round bye. They have been consistent all spring expect them continue their success. Players to watch for CAC is 2017 Hunter OF Corbell, 2017 RHP Brayden Quesinberry, and 2017 C Tanner Weber.

Prediction: CAC

3:00 PM Ashdown vs Dover

Dover is a big physical team that has the ability to hit some home runs. They’ll have to hit a few to win against a talented Ashdown team. Ashdown is physically gifted 1-9 with solid athletes up and down their lineup. Ashdown’s talent too much to handle at this point in the season.

Prediction: Ashdown

5:30 PM Arkadelphia vs Clinton

Matros, Kosters, Jester, Spradlin, Beebe, ECT this group has been here and had success too many times, and Badgers roll.

Prediction: Arkadelphia

May 14^th Semi-Finals

12:00 PM Shiloh Christian vs CAC

Shiloh Christian has good young talent. Look for 2018 RHP Landon Brown and 2018 CIF Luke Johnson to have an impact on this game. A solid match up but I think that the talent Shiloh has will be too much for CAC.

Prediction: Shiloh Christian

2:30 PM Ashdown vs Arkadelphia

Round 4 for these two, Arkadelphia has won 2, Ashdown won the last game defeating Arkadelphia in the finals of the South Regional tournament. All three have been heated battles that were decided late, expect nothing less here. Coaching strategy throughout the tournament will decide who has what left on the mound and that makes a huge difference. A player to watch in this match up will be 2018 CIF/RHP Jaden Hill, the physical athlete has the ability to take over a game on the mound or at the plate. I picked Arkadelphia at the beginning of the year, so I’ll stay with them….

Prediction: Arkadelphia

May 21^st Finals 3:00 PM Baum Stadium

Shiloh Christian vs Arkadelphia is a battle of veteran experience, with up and coming talent. I pick Arkadelphia to win but this young team from Shiloh should be the favorite to win it in 2017. There underclassmen have all the pieces to win a state championship.

Prediction: Arkadelphia

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