Regional Preview: 4A East Regional (2024)

May 1, 2017

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

District tournaments were last week, the week was filled with dominating performances, close games, with high end talent coming to the top, and even a couple of talented groups being upset. This week we continue to pare down the competition on the road to Baum Stadium. We start with a preview of the 4A East Regional.

2-4A District

1. Central Arkansas Christian High School Record: 19-7

The Mustangs are a veteran group that have had a very successful run, over the past two seasons. This senior laden team looks to finish off their great careers with a run to the state finals. To take care of business in the regional they’ll lean on 2017 C Tanner Weber offensively to provide an anchor around a group of versatile athletes which have been capable of putting up runs in bunches. On the mound 2017 RHP Braden Quesinberry and 2020 Rhett James have been a solid 1-2 punch that should allow them to advance to the state tournament and make a run at winning the regional. 2017 INF/RHP Hunter Corbel may be the key, as he is a versatile player that can provide an explosive bat, solid defense and provide some depth on the mound.

Overall a solid team which expects to win at a high level. They have been one of our top picks all season and they have lived up to the hype.

2. Lonoke High School Record: 18-11

The Jackrabbits are led by 2017 MIF/RHP Casey Martin. Martin a dynamic athlete, that is a plus defender at short stop with advanced arm strength. Offensively he is capable of impacting the game in multiple ways, either as a base stealer, or a player that can create instant offense with the ability to hit home runs. He is capable on the mound with a mid-80’s fastball and a feel for the breaking. Martin is surrounded by an athletic roster that has shown to be very competitive against the challenging schedule first year head Coach Chris Fore has challenged them with. 2018 RHP/CIF Kade Stuart has pitched as their No. 1 throughout the year. He does a sound job keeping the ball in the bottom half of the strike zone with two competitive pitches. 2017 OF Haven Hunter is good athlete with a line drive swing and the ability to create offense once he reaches base.

Overall a tough out for anyone with the amount of depth they have athletically, almost unbeatable if Martin gets going offensively or is allowed to get going offensively.

2017 MIF Casey Martin Lonoke HS

3. Heber Springs High School Record 20-6

The Panthers are a veteran group, which was forced to play as young players, they now have grown into a solid club with sound pitching and a dynamic offense. Offensively they are paced by 2017 INF/OF Pierce Mitchum and 2018 CIF Jacob Blasingame. The duo has 29 extra base hits and drove in 57 runs. This is a fierce 1-2 punch in the middle of the order. On the mound they are anchored by 2017 RHP Andrew Bradshaw. Bradshaw is a crafty right-hander that has the ability to locate two pitches and competes at a high level. After Bradshaw they turn to a consistent group of strike throwers with a staff ERA of 3.29. Their Achilles heel has been defense this spring, if they can defend consistently look for them to pull off an upset and make some noise moving forward.

Overall an experienced group that has the best overall opportunity to pull off an upset.

2017 OF/MIF Pierce Mitchum Heber Springs

4. Southside High School Record: 15-9

The Southerners pulled off a slight upset in the first round of the district tournament knocking off 4 seed Stuttgart. This group will rely on 2017 RHP Cole House to pitch their way past Westside in the first round of the tournament. House has had a solid senior campaign pitching 45 innings with a 1.56 ERA, while striking out 70. Offensively they have shown the ability to take damage swings creating offense with 79 extra base hits, with a .353 team batting average. They will need to run into a few balls if they are going to upset a Westside club which is playing well.

3-4A District

1. Westside High School Record: 18-3

Westside has been dominant all season with 1 loss in conference play and 3 on the entire year. Offensively they are paced by a pair of seniors, 2017 OF Austin Tyler and 2017 CIF Braden Adams. Tyler is hitting .375 with 4 2Bs 1 HR, 17 RBIs and 22 runs scored. Adams is hitting .306 with 6 2B and 24 RBIs. On the mound they have had an exceptional year with a staff ERA of 1.61. 2017 Austin Tyler has pitched the majority of the innings, throwing 55 innings a 2.04 ERA with 70 strike outs and just 18 walks.

Overall a solid club, with the ability to do the little things right on a consistent basis. If anyone knocks them off in the regional tournament they will have to earn it, with very few gifts handed out by this group.

2. Harrisburg High School Record: 17-8

The Hornets are led by 2018 P Zach Biggers, he has had a great junior campaign. On the mound he has pitched 59.1 innings with a 1.06 ERA he has 69 strike outs on the season. Offensively Biggers is hitting .323 with 4 2B 10 RBIs and 20 runs scored. As a unit they are hitting .280 with a large group of upperclassmen with the majority of the production. On the mound they have been solid posting a staff ERA of 2.97. 2017 Jaxson Hawkins and 2017 Jordan Hindman, are names to know as they have both provide significant production as two way players all season.

Overall a good team, with an advanced arm on the mound in game one. Getting past CAC without Biggers on the mound may be difficult but he may pitch well enough to move them onto the state tournament.

3. Brookland High School Record: 15-10

The Bearcats are a team leaning on underclassmen for a lot of their production both offensively and on the mound. They have had mixed results, at times being a very tough win, but other times giving away to many gifts and dropping games you expect them to win. If this young team shows up, Lonoke may have their hands full. 2019 RHP/INF Jake Algee, and 2019 C Ben Robinson are names to circle in your program. Algee is hitting .380 on the year with 5 2B, and a 3B along with 12 RBIs. Robinson is hitting .338 with 5 2B and 11 RBIs. On the mound 2018 LHP Brandon Glenn and 2018 RHP Trevor Jones, have pitched the majority of the innings this spring and will have to perform well to advance. They both compete in the strike zone at a high rate with a 3:1 Strike out to walk ratio.

Overall a dangerous group, if they play consistent defense, and can keep 2017 MIF Casey Martin in check in game 1 of the tournament.

4. Highland High School Record: 9-14

The Rebels will hand the ball to 2018 RHP Tristan Trivitt. He has been their guy all year, he will be given the task of trying to shut down the versatile offense that CAC possess. He showed he has the ability to lead his team to victory as he lead the charge in the upset of Gosnell, the 2016 District tournament Champions, and a team expected to challenge Westside for the district title this season before being up ended 2-0. It will take a similar team effort this week if Highland will advance to the State Tournament.

Schedule

Thursday

10:00 Highland vs CAC
12:30 Heber Springs vs Harrisburg
3:00 Southside vs Westside
5:30 Brookland vs Lonoke

Prediction

I am picking the CAC Mustangs to win the regional, it’s a veteran club that plays sound baseball, with consistent pitching and defense. Obviously, Westside should challenge them for the title, but I wouldn’t count out a battle tested Lonoke club. Upset alert; Harrisburg should be on upset alert as 2017 RHP Andrew Bradshaw is a tough draw in the first round, and 2017 OF/INF Peirce Mitchum is a dynamic player which can take over a game.

2017 C Tanner Weber Central Arkansas Christain

Regional Preview: 4A East Regional (2024)

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