Bulldogs Look To Turn The Corner

— Springdale High baseball coach Billy Ray Rutledge sat inside the dugout and glanced at his players as they did core exercises before the start of another practice.

Schedule

Springdale High Bulldogs

Date Opponent Time

Feb. 26 Prairie Grove 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 at Gentry 4:30 p.m.

March 1 Farmington 4:30 p.m.

March 6 BSC — Siloam Springs^ 5 p.m.

March 7 BSC — at Rogers Heritage 5 p.m.

March 8 BSC — at Bentonville 5 p.m.

March 12 at Siloam Springs (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

March 15 McDonalds Classic^ TBD

March 16 McDonalds Classic^ TBD

March 21 at Heber Springs Tournament TBD

March 22 at Heber Springs Tournament TBD

March 23 at Heber Springs Tournament TBD

March 26 Bentonville (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

April 2 Van Buren (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

April 9 at Rogers Heritage (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

April 12 at Farmington 5 p.m.

April 18 at Fayetteville (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

April 25 Rogers High (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

April 27 Mountain Home Noon

May 2 at Springdale Har-Ber (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

^ — Denotes at Tyson Sports Complex

  • — Denotes 7A/6A-West Conference game

The sun was out, and even though the temperature was in the 40s, the Bulldogs hurried around the field at the Tyson Sports Complex.

Springdale’s players have spent the offseason changing the way they do things after falling just short of earning a berth to last year’s Class 7A State Tournament.

“This year we’ve worked on a lot more speed work early on, especially weights and speed,” said Springdale shortstop Matt Sherry, who’ll also be counted on to pitch this season. “Lately we’ve been implementing a lot more basically baseball-related stuff in our warmups.”

Rutledge has spoken about wanting to return Springdale’s baseball program to the success it enjoyed a few years ago, and he said he’s seeing signs of progress heading into Monday’s season opener against Prairie Grove.

The Bulldogs remained competitive in games last season despite finishing with a 10-14 record. Meanwhile, senior Gatlin Watson became the latest Springdale player to sign a national letter of intent when he decided earlier this month to pitch for Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

“I think we’re getting there. I think we’re turning the corner,” Rutledge said. “Every year we can kind of see how our players are growing and kind of adapt to what we’re trying to do.

“We practice a lot better than we used to. The intensity is a lot better, and we’re a lot more focused on a day-to-day basis than we have been in the past.”

Springdale’s goal continues to be to qualify for the state tournament and make a push in the highly competitive 7A/6A-West Conference. To accomplish one or both of those goals this season, Rutledge said the Bulldogs must rely on Watson and Sherry to be effective on the mound.

Springdale doesn’t necessarily have power hitters on its roster, and there are questions about the pitching depth. But Rutledge said Watson and Sherry can form a dynamic 1-2 combination that will surely come in handy during conference doubleheaders later in the season.

“We feel like those guys are good enough to give us a shot to win every time they’re on the balm,” Rutledge said. “We’re definitely going to hang our hats on those two guys, and hopefully we can put it all together and have a pretty good year.”

Rutledge said much of his lineup appears set aside from at left and right field. Matt McDonald will hit in the middle of the lineup after batting more than .400 last season, and fellow senior Payne Townley will again set the tone as Springdale’s leadoff hitter.

Sherry said the Bulldogs should have a “lockdown” infield this season, which will make things much easier for himself and the team’s other pitchers.

“As far as pitching, we should be all right. We need a couple of younger kids to step up this year, but I think we can be all right,” Sherry said. “Hitting is definitely going to have to step up this year. We had a lot of close games that were lost because we couldn’t just get our bats going.”

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