By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The year of 2016 was a busy year for Prep Baseball Report Arkansas. We hosted 12 showcase events, scouted 3 tournaments during high schools season and 8 during the summer. Our staff saw over 100 games during the high school season. Today we look at 7A State Championship as  the No. 4 Story of the year. 

The Bryant Hornets finished off a great season winning the 7A State title with 5-0 victory over conference rival Conway. Bryant has two Arkansas commit’s in 2016 RHP Zach Jackson and 2016 LHP/OF Evan Lee. Both players looked right at home in Baum Stadium.  Jackson threw a complete game, commanding his fastball 84-87 mph and his sharp slider 79-82 mph. Jackson handled the pitching and Lee handled the offense recording 3 hits including a 3 run home run that was an absolute no doubter. The 2016 State Title gives Bryant 3 state championships in the last 6 years. Bryant was the most dominating team all year. Most games were a race to 1 with the talented pitching staff and a suffocating defense. Offensively they executed enough to manufacture runs and always took advantage of any mistakes teams handed out to them.

Moving Forward

Conway will be my preseason favorite to win the 7A State Title in 2017. They have to find a replacement for 2016 LHP Colin Cahill production on the mound, but the position players are talented and have the experience of the past two state title game appearances. Bryant is neve out of the conversation, with the losses of Coach Kirk Bock, Evan Lee, and Zach Jackson, there is too much unknown to put them as the favorites again. Catholic High School will be a tough draw in the state tournament with their elite pitching depth. Cabot High School may have the most veteran talent and depth, if they can all get going in the same direction they can make a run. My sleeper pick in 2017 will be the Fayetteville Bulldogs, after a rebuilding year the perineal power has reloaded a pitching staff and surrounds it with some talent position players.

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