BENTONVILLE — Austin Haggard has become a rare commodity when it comes to today’s high school sports.
While many athletes choose to focus their attention and talents on just one sport, Haggard has made significant contributions to three different Bentonville teams during his senior year — with little or no rest as he switches from one sport to another.
He was an all-conference safety on the Tigers’ football team, then quickly turned to basketball, where he was one of Bentonville’s three starting guards and earned all-conference honorable mention. Now he’s fully entrenched in baseball, where he serves as Bentonville’s starting left fielder.
“It’s very rewarding to be able to do it,” Haggard said. “With all the coaches being so acceptable to it and not punishing you for going sport to sport, it’s a lot of fun.
“You never get bored, and you stay in shape. So there’s a positive.”
Profile
Austin Haggard
SCHOOL: Bentonville
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-8
WEIGHT: 175
NOTABLE: Has a .385 batting average with 14 runs scored, 10 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 17 games as the Tigers’ starting left fielder. ... Had three hits and scored three runs in Bentonville’s nonconference victory over North Little Rock, the top-ranked team in the Arkansas High School Baseball Coaches Association poll. ... A three-sport athlete, where he was also an all-conference safety on the Tigers football team and an honorable mention all-conference guard on the basketball team.
It never takes Haggard long to make the adjustment from one sport to another. He missed Bentonville’s first three basketball games of the season because of football, and he missed two baseball games because of basketball.
His first baseball appearance was a March 7 game against Conway in the Best Sports Classic, and he immediately contributed, going 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. He’s coming off his best hitting performance, where he had three hits and scored three runs in Bentonville’s nonconference victory Friday over North Little Rock.
“When we have Austin, it counts for us,” Bentonville coach Todd Abbott said. “He’s fantastic. He’s a tremendous competitor, has a great attitude and leads by example.
“As difficult as it is to play three sports, you watch him go from football to basketball and from basketball to baseball, and he’s ready to jump in and do what it takes to help the team. It’s been great for us to have him the last couple of years.”
Haggard will enter Thursday’s nonconference game at Greenwood with a .385 batting average (20 hits in 52 at-bats) and seven stolen bases, and he has driven in 10 runs and scored 14 times. He started the season ninth in Bentonville’s batting order, but has started the last three games as the Tigers’ leadoff hitter.
His improved batting makes Haggard and fellow senior Chris Mizelle a formidable one-two offensive punch, no matter if Haggard bats first or ninth. The two also provide the speed needed to cover the outfield.
“Left field is probably one of my favorites,” Haggard said when asked about his preference in positions. “I like playing middle infield, but we needed some speed in the outfield.
“Chris is in center, so with him and Kane Koenigseder in right, we’re pretty fast. It’s fun to play in the outfield with them.”