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 LR Christian vs Pulaski Academy

Little Rock Christian will play cross town rival Pulaski Academy in the opening round. This two met in non-conference and Pulaski Academy won handling, most would attribute that to LRCA throwing off. It won’t be the case in the opening round, expect 2016 LHP Carter Wade (Central Arkansas commit) to pitch for the Warriors. They have been almost unbeatable with him on the mound expect similar results in round one.

Prediction: Little Rock Christian

12:30 PM Batesville vs Watson Chapel

Batesville vs Watson Chapel will be a battle of the routine. Batesville has had success by playing fundamentally sound baseball and limited mistakes. Watson Chapel has been up and down throughout due to inconsistent play defensively. If the Wildcats defend they maybe one of the toughest outs in the tournament. They have a deep pitching staff and an explosive bat in 2018 OF Jakobi Jackson.

Prediction: Watson Chapel

3:00 PM Sylvan Hills vs Farmington

Farmington is the four seed that no one wanted to draw. 2017 RHP Tyler Gregg will pitch for Farmington and has frontline stuff that can send even the best team home early. Sylvan Hills has been tough all season with four pitchers competing in the strike zone and a competitive line up 1-9. I pick them to advance but Farmington has a chance to beat anyone with Gregg on the mound.

Prediction: Sylvan Hills

5:30 PM Lakeside vs Valley View

The senior class at Lakeside has endured three coaches in four years, evolving and battling changes each season. This adversity tested group has never wavered earning a state tournament bid each season. Their toughness will show up in a battle versus Valley. Expect 2016 RHP Jon Youngblood (Henderson State commit) to pitch for a deep Valley View line up lead by 2016 MIF Reed Fischbacker.

Prediction Lakeside

10:00 AM White Hall vs Wynne

White Hall is finished as the State Championship runner up in 2015 falling in a 1-0 game to Harrison. They are led by 2016 OF Caleb Carr and 2016 RHP Cade Canada, who feel they have some unfinished business from last spring. I look for their experience to pay off as they face Wynne team that is trending up.

Prediction: White Hall

12:30 PM Jacksonville vs Greenbrier

Greenbrier is playing good baseball at the right time. The swept rival Vilonia the last series of the season to clinch a playoff berth and knock the Eagles out of playoff contention. 2017 LHP Hunter Milligan (Mississippi State commit) will pitch for Greenbrier. The 6-foot-2 left-hander commands the strike zone 84-88 mph with a solid breaking ball. He will be countered by 2016 LHP Brandon Hawkins for Jacksonville. Hawkins has been consistent all year giving this young Red-Devils team a chance to win. I predict Greenbrier will win, but never sleep on Coach Larry Burrows finding a way to advance.

Prediction: Greenbrier

3:00 PM Greene County Tech vs Magnolia

The best game of the day. Greene County Tech will throw one of their 3 right-handers, 2016 RHP Ty Gordon, 2017 RHP Drew Mullins or 2017 RHP Chase Hutson. All compete in the strike zone with 2 quality pitches. Magnolia will throw 2017 MIF/RHP Matt Goodheart. Goodheart doesn’t have wow stuff but locates and out competes almost anyone. This game may come to down to who can scratch out a run late. This is a toss-up, so I’ll go with the higher seed of Greene County Tech

Prediction: Greene County Tech

5:30 Harrison vs Beebe

Beebe a team nobody wanted to draw in the first round due to pitching match ups. 2016 RHP Angus Denton will get the ball for the Badgers. The Arkansas commit pounds the strike zone with a fastball 83-85 mph from a side arm, arm slot. Harrison will pitch 2016 LHP Adam Brown, he has anchored their staff all year, taking on all the tops arms in the 5A west and coming out victorious against most. With both pitchers being tough, this game may come down to a position player stepping up. I give the edge to Harrison with 2016 MIF Cooper King, the ultimate competitor with an advanced hit tool.

Prediction: Harrison

May 13^th Round 2

12:00 PM Little Rock Christian vs Watson Chapel

This is a tough match up. I had both of these teams as teams to watch preseason and have not lost faith in either. Both rosters are talented with deep pitching staffs. Little Rock Christian has played more consistent throughout the season, so I will give them the slightest edge.

Prediction: Little Rock Christian

2:30 PM Sylvan Hills vs Lakeside

On day two, pitching depth comes into play. Sylvan Hills won’t have much drop off from game 1 to game 4 of a tournament. I give them the edge due to depth. Look for 2018 C/RHP Nick Fakouri to have an impact for Sylvan Hills.

Prediction: Sylvan Hills

12:00 PM White Hall vs Greenbrier

Greenbrier has some thump in the middle of their order with 2017 CIF Paxton Wallace (Wichita State commit and 2017 LHP/CIF Hunter Milligan (Mississippi State commit), however I don’t think they will have enough impact to defeat White Hall. Expect White Hall to pitch 2018 C/RHP Layne Hartsfield who commands the zone with three pitches.

Prediction: White Hall

2:30 PM Greene County Tech vs Harrison

Greene County Tech’s second wave of arms will impress and help punch their ticket to the semi-final round. Harrison will compete and have a shot late, ultimately their offensive holes will be exposed as the Eagles move on.

Prediction: Greene County Tech

May 14^th Semi-Finals

12:00 PM Little Rock Christian vs Sylvan Hills

 A great match up between similar teams. Sylvan Hills will still have two quality options left for their starting pitcher, whereas LRCA will have to start closer 2016 Dylan Hays, stretch him as far as possible and hope that their 4^th arm can pick up the slack to get them through. Pitching depth rules the day and Sylvan Hills advances to the finals

Prediction: Sylvan Hills

2:30 PM White Hall vs Greene County Tech

The third game in three days, pitching depth is key and Greene County Tech has the depth to finish off their run for Baum Stadium. Don’t count out White Hall’s chances with a solid team, with some dynamic offensive players.

Prediction: Greene County Tech

May 21^st Finals 3:00 PM Baum Stadium

Greene County Tech vs Sylvan Hills will not disappoint. The 5A classification is the deepest for baseball with a ton of parody. Look for this to be a well-played game with a little bit of everything for a traditional baseball fan. My pick is Sylvan Hills to win the 5A State Championship due to the overall depth of their roster

Prediction: Sylvan Hills