Baseball
Conference: 4A-7
Coach: Brant Matros, starting his eighth season at Arkadelphia
Assistant coaches: Mark Coon and Jeremy Myers
2014 record: 26-5 overall; 5-2 in conference — the team won the district and regional tournaments and was the 2014 4A state champion.
Returning starters: J. Brooks Burnham, Clay Wilson, Dylan Weems, Ty Kosters, Cutter Jester, Brayden Bebee and Brandon Matros
Best hitter for average: “Junior Cutter Jester (shortstop, 5-10, 165) led the team offensively in average and on-base percentage as a freshman and last year as a sophomore. He is also a plus runner,” coach Brant Matros said. “[Jester] can bunt for a base hit and handles the bat with great precision.”
Best power hitter: Junior Ty Kosters, (third base/pitcher, 5-11, 190). “He has led the team in home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage as a freshman and last year as a sophomore,” Coach Matros said. “[He is] a natural power hitter who is fast becoming a great hitter. Junior catcher Danny Spradlin will hit high in the lineup and has an explosive bat with great power potential. He was injured all of last season.”
Best fielder: Senior Clay Wilson, (5-11, 160, second base). “He has turned into a powerful force in the middle,” the coach said. Wilson led the team in fielding percentage last season and is a “plus runner” who the coach said can hit leadoff or second in the batting order or drop down to eighth or ninth.
Best speed: Junior Cameron Breashears and sophomore Eric Groom are “plus runners” competing for the outfield spots vacated by seniors, Coach Matros said.
Best arm: Senior right-handed pitcher Dylan Weems (also an outfielder, 6-2, 195). “He was mostly a closer last season [and] transitions to a starter this season with an 85-87 mph fastball and a cannon from the outfield,” Matros said.
Best pitcher: Coach Matros said two leaders from last year are right-handed pitcher Brayden Bebee (6-2, 180) and left-hander Brandon Matros (6-0, 190). Bebee has a 9-0 record with quality wins against higher classification teams from White Hall, Pulaski Academy and Benton. “[Bebee has] great location, excellent off-speed command and a mid-80s fastball with lots of movement,” the coach said. “[Brandon Matros] is a quality starter but was used mostly as a closer with a mid-80s fastball and plus off-speed pitches. He did not give up a run in closing situations.”
College prospects: Coach Matros said Burnham has signed to play football at Ouachita Baptist University; Weems and Wilson have seen some interest from junior colleges and local NCAA Division II schools; and Kosters is drawing interest in both football and baseball. Jester, Brandon Matros, Bebee, Spradlin and newcomer right-handed pitcher Dillon Parham all have potential and look to continue playing after high school and are getting interest from several schools, the coach said.
Softball
Conference: 4A-7
Coach: Lynn Rook, entering his 19th year at Arkadelphia
Assistant coach: Benjamin Barras
2014 record: 7-13 overall; 1-6 in conference
Returning starters: “We graduated two seniors, so we have the rest of our squad coming back,” coach Lynn Rook said. Primary starters will include sophomore Sealy Thigpen at shortstop and pitcher; sophomore Nia Nelson at second base; returning two-year starter and junior Victoria Lewis at third base; seniors Janeeshia Harvell at first base and right fielder Jenesis Mitchell; junior center fielder Autumn Blankenship; sophomore Ashli Gray, who will split time between second base and designated hitter; sophomore catcher Jalise Hayes; and junior utility player Morgan Stinson.
Best hitter for average: Rook said Thigpen was the team’s best hitter for average last year with .417, 3 home runs and 21 RBIs. The team’s second leading hitter was Nelson with .342.
Best power hitter: Thigpen. Lewis “also shows power at times,” Rook said.
Best fielder: Third baseman Lewis, and in the outfield, Blankenship, the coach said.
Best speed: “Our best speed will probably be some of our freshmen coming up,” Rook said. Freshman Mollie Daniell and Ashlyn Taylor will help. Stinson and Lewis also have great speed, Rook said.
Best arm: Mitchell, who is entrenched as the team’s right fielder, has the ability to throw out runners at the plate, the coach said.
Best pitcher: Rook said Thigpen was the only player who pitched a lot last year, but the coach expects Lewis to help out in the pitching department this year. Daniell and Gray might also see some time on the pitcher’s mound this season. All three are right-handed, Rook said.
College prospects: Rook said he considers Thigpen and Lewis to have potential for college play, but he isn’t counting out others on the team. “I don’t really want to mention the freshmen until they’ve played, but they have potential,” the coach added.