State Tournament Preview: 6A

May 10, 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 Pine Bluff vs Mountain Home

Pine Bluff vs Mountain Home

Pine Bluff has played well this season, finishing tied for 2^nd in the 5A South, this has been one of the best season for the Zebra’s in recent memory. They have relied on pitching performances from 2017 RHP Brandon Little and 2017 Jaylen Deshazier to carry them into the state tournament. Mountain Home will pitch 2016 RHP Ryan Czantowski a physical right-hander with an upper 80’s fastball and solid curveball. He has been great for the Bombers all year but has suffered some hard luck losses. Pine Bluff wins in a close game with a better offense to support their solid pitching staff.

Prediction: Pine Bluff

12:30 PM Searcy vs El Dorado

Searcy vs El Dorado will be a matchup of the now and the future. El Dorado has some good young talent, Searcy has a veteran pitching staff (2016 RHP Austin Allen and 2016 RHP Bryce Bartlett) that makes this team ready to win now. Searcy is too much for El Dorado to handle.

Prediction: Searcy

3:00 PM Lake Hamilton vs Siloam Springs

A tough match up to call. Both teams have shown flashes of being a contender with big conference upsets but haven’t shown the consistency to be considered a contender. Siloam Springs pitching staff has consistently given them a chance to win, I give them the slightest of edges in round one.

Prediction: Siloam Springs

5:30 Greenwood vs Arkansas

Greenwood is a young team with high end talent, they have played inconsistent at times due to their youth, and if they show up focused they could be a tough out not only in the first round but throughout. Arkansas has struggled this season, fortunately for them their bright spot has been on the mound with 2016 RHP Patrick Flannigan, he will keep them competitive in round one but I look for Greenwood to take care of business and advance.

Prediction: Greenwood

Friday May 13th Round 2

10:00 AM Alma vs Winner Game 1 (Pine Bluff)

Alma is a solid team with the majority of their contributions coming from upperclassmen. Pine Bluff has played too well of late to be stopped. The Zebras pitching depth shows up and carries the day in round two with the first upset.

Prediction: Pine Bluff

12:30 PM Sheridan vs Winner Game 2 (Searcy)

Sheridan is part of the youth movement through the 6A classification, playing a majority of their roster as underclassmen. The 2015 6A State Champions are accustomed to winning, but I think they take a step back with Searcy throwing a dominant arm and getting a key contribution from 2017 CIF Adrian Hannah in the middle of the Lions line up.

Prediction: Searcy

3:00 PM Jonesboro vs Winner Game 3 (Siloam Springs)

Jonesboro upset Searcy, sweeping them in a double header, to claim the conference championship and the first round bye. The one game off looks to be the difference maker, as a fresh pitching staff leads the Hurricanes to victory.

Prediction: Jonesboro

5:30 Benton vs Winner Game 4 (Greenwood)

Benton is a veteran club starting 7 seniors who, were large contributors in their run in 2015 to the state finals were they fell to Sheridan in a back and forth battle. This group coasted through the early part of their schedule dropping some unnecessary games, but the look to have it rolling at the right. Greenwood will be a tough test especially if they can throw off in game one and pitch 2018 RHP Connor Noland. Noland is an ultra-talented sophomore with an upper 80’s fastball and a solid breaking ball that competes in the strike zone with. Benton wins a close one,

Prediction: Benton

Saturday May 14th Semi-Finals

12:00 Winner of Game 5 (Pine Bluff) vs Winner of Game 6 (Searcy)

If both teams advance to the semi-finals, it will be there 3^rd game in three days and will come down to pitching depth and offense. Unfortunately for the Zebra’s I give Searcy the advantage in both. 2017 MIF/RHP Hayden Bowman and 2017 RHP/CIF Adrian Hannah have logged consistent innings with success through the spring.

Prediction: Searcy

2:30 Winner of Game 7 (Jonesboro) vs Winner of Game 8 (Benton)

2016 LHP Chase Nix has the chance to make a huge impact on this game, the athletic left-hander has the stuff to shut Jonesboro down if he can command the strike zone. Jonesboro is dangerous enough to take advantages of some gifts and advance. I am picking Benton to take care of business and move with consistent play from their veterans.

Prediction: Benton

Saturday May 21st –Finals

Expect two future teammates to take the mound versus each other in the state finals. 2016 LHP Drew Dyer should get the ball for Benton, while 2016 RHP Bryce Bartlett would likely be the choice for Searcy in the finals, both players are committed to Central Arkansas. An even pitching matchup, with Benton having the edge offensively with two dynamic hitters in the middle of their line up in 2016 C Brinson Williams and 2016 OF Colten Nix. I predict the Panthers make a return trip to Baum Stadium with a different result this season.

Prediction: Benton

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