Craig Gibbs has seen success in his stints as a high school baseball coach in Missouri, as a head coach at Arcadia Valley HS from 1997-2001 and most recently Farmington HS from 2003 through the present. Gibbs was twice names the KTJJ Dream Team Coach of the Year and is an active member on the MSHSAA Baseball Advisory Committee

What are your thoughts on how the new five class system will effect schools that will be moving to a different class? Those who will remain in the same class?

Gibbs: I admire MSHSAA for expanding the opportunities for high school baseball in our state.  They have proven that the expansions to 6 classes in football and 5 classes in basketball were beneficial to all involved.  It has been a long time coming, but I am confident that this will only help high school baseball in Missouri.  As far as schools moving up or down, I can give an interesting perspective.  In 2007 MSHSA cycle, Farmington was a class 3 quarter-finalist. In the next cycle, MSHSAA change the way in which they classified baseball schools.  Instead of using basically the same way as they used to classify basketball, they implemented an equal classification enrollment system.  That moved Farmington to class 4 for that cycle.  This cycle, with the new 5 class system, we will probably be at the bottom of Class 5.  So, during the last three consecutive cycles, we could be assigned to three different classifications.  With that being said, I am fine with whichever class we may be assigned.  It is about promoting high school baseball in Missouri.  I am grateful that we are moving in the direction we are moving.

Do you think it will increase competitiveness or hurt some schools?

Gibbs: Athletics, no matter the sport are founded with competitiveness at the core.  After the initial shock to schools that may have to move up a class, coaches and players will concentrate on being competitive each and every day. 

What trends in ability have you noticed the past few years?

Gibbs: High school baseball players are bigger and stronger than they have ever been.  In my 17 years of coaching, I continually am amazed at the advancements that are being made in individual baseball training.  Kids may not necessarily throw harder than they did 10 years ago, but the control, movement, and development of secondary pitches is much better now than ever. 

Do you think the new BBCOR bats have anything to do with the trends?

Gibbs: The BBCOR bats have only had a negative impact on the marginal high school hitter.  The old BESR bats allowed below average hitters to be impact hitters at times.  The good hitters are going to be good hitters whether they are using BBCOR or wood bats.

Looking into  crystal ball, what do you think the future of Missouri baseball holds? Does it seem like the talent pool is increasing, decreasing, staying the same? Why do you think this way (private training, better coaching, etc?) 

Gibbs: I think Missouri high school baseball is becoming more recognized nationally every year.  The summer prospect teams that are being assembled are competing at a national level every year.  As we continue to move in the right direction with our high school baseball situation, it only stands to reason that baseball as a whole in Missouri will continue to climb nationally.