Team Preview: Catholic High School

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The 2017 season is rapidly approaching. As we get closer to season, I begin my preview of each team and stories that will affect the overall results of the high school season, and who will ultimately end their season in Baum Stadium on the campus of the University of Arkansas. We will begin with the 7A Central and Catholic High School.

The Rockets, should again be in contention in the 7A Central as well as the 7A State Championship. They continue to produce dominant arms that give them a chance night in and night out. In 2016 they finished their season in the state semi-finals, losing a heart-breaker in extra innings to the State Runner up Conway Wampus Cats. The 2016 team had a large senior class including 2016 LHP Dylonn Thompson, 2016 INF/OF Joe Myers and 2016 OF Lance Harville-Thomas. The position players will be the hardest to replace, as they return 3 pitchers with significant experience.

On The Mound

2018 LHP Evan Hiatt, 2018 LHP Hank Hannah, and 2017 RHP Noah Fowler will be the staple of this pitching staff. Hiatt was dominant in 2016 carry the biggest load of anyone on the staff. His fastball work 84-86 mph and located consistently at the bottom half of the strike zone. The Arkansas commit shows advanced command but his go to pitch is his curveball thrown 75-77 mph with late break and 12/6 action. Hannah seems to be tracking in the right direction, his 2016 campaign was a little in consistent but that is normal for a sophomore. In the fall he showed more arm strength and a greater feel for the strike zone as well as his breaking ball. Fowler shows advanced pitch ability, locating three pitches for strikes, he a steady option as the No.3 in the rotation. 2017 RHP Tate Stine, 2019 RHP J Matt Rogers, and 2020 LHP Jackson Davis should all contribute to give them consistent depth

Offensively

Offensively the Rockets will look a lot different in 2017. The 2016 unit had more raw power than any team in the state with 7 players showing the ability to hit the ball out of the ball park on any given swing. In 2017 the lineup will look very athletic and a unit that will have to manufacture runs. 2017 MIF Cameron Tissue will lead the offense. Tissue has a line drive swing that finds consistent barrel, he has been one of the better offensive players in the conference for the past 3 seasons. He will now be surrounded by promising young players, such as 2019 INF/OF William Plafcan, 2019 OF Chris Gray, 2019 OF Ethan Fowler.

Overall

Overall Catholic High School has the deepest pitching staff around, if they can find some consistent offensive production around Tissue they may have a chance to win the conference. A conference title would sit them up for the always valued bye in the state tournament. A bye in the state tournament should put them in the drives seat to Baum Stadium. 

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