Panthers to Rely on Senior Leaders

 Siloam Springs will need to depend on its senior leadership on the baseball diamond this spring, even if the ones out there don’t have a wealth of experience.
Siloam Springs will need to depend on its senior leadership on the baseball diamond this spring, even if the ones out there don’t have a wealth of experience.

— Siloam Springs will need to depend on its senior leadership on the baseball diamond this spring, even if the ones out there don’t have a wealth of experience.

Schedule

Siloam Springs Panthers

DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT

Feb. 18 Shiloh Christian (benefit) W, 12-9

Feb. 26 Gravette 5 p.m.

March 1 Prairie Grove 4 p.m.

March 6-9 Best Sports Tournament TBA

March 12 Springdale*(DH) 4:30 p.m.

March 15-16 Springdale Bulldogs Classic TBA

March 26 at Springdale Har-Ber*(DH) 4:30 p.m.

April 2 at Rogers Heritage*(DH) 4:30 p.m.

April 8 McDonald County, Mo. 4:30 p.m.

April 9 Bentonville*(DH) 4:30 p.m.

April 12 at Prairie Grove 4:30 p.m.

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

April 22 Alma 4:30 p.m.

April 25 at Fayetteville*(DH) 4:30 p.m.

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

May 9-11 Class 6A State Tournament TBA

  • Denotes 7A/6A-West Conference games

The Panthers must replace nearly all of its starting lineup from last season’s team, and fifth-year head coach Jonathan Johnson will lean on his upperclassmen to help fill those voids.

“You hope that those older kids are going to be the leaders for you,” Johnson said. “You hope that they’re the ones that can establish protocols. They’re the ones that are going to go out there and earn those jobs and keep those jobs and play.”

Five seniors in particular will play key roles for Siloam Springs, which went 6-20 overall last season and 3-11 in the 5A-West.

Senior Austin Van Poucke has played all over the place for the Panthers the last two years and will likely be counted on as a pitcher, catcher, first baseman and outfielder.

Senior Shay Melton will be another pitcher and is penciled in as the starting shortstop, moving over from second base where he saw lots of action last year.

Senior Joe Dawes played some as a junior and improved in the offseason. He’ll likely be the Panthers’ center fielder.

Senior Taylor Wilt is in line to start at third base for Siloam Springs, having platooned in the position a year ago.

Senior Austin Simmons has played catcher and designated hitter, and he’ll see some time at first base this year as well.

Plugging the holes elsewhere for the Panthers will be sophomores and even some freshman.

Sophomore David Goodman is in line to start at catcher for Siloam Springs. However, freshman Matthew McSpadden, a move-in from Batesville, and freshman Coby Roach could also see some time there.

Sophomore Keldon Bartlett will play a lot of second base with another freshman, Evan Thomas, likely to see some time there.

Freshman Zac Bolstad could play some at shortstop when Melton is on the mound.

Sophomore Matthew Metheny, a move-in from White Hall, has also impressed coaches in preseason drills and could play some on the infield.

In the outfield, sophomore Raiff Beever is in the Panthers’ plans as is senior Levi Tompkins, senior Darren Rocha and freshman Cole Reed.

“We’re always looking for that competition, regardless of age,” Johnson said. “We’re always looking for those kids that can find that niche. Maybe they can’t be those everyday players for us, but even those young kids that have that niche can throw a couple of innings. They can run, and they can bunt the ball well. Maybe they’re a good defender and go play a defensive position for us.”

On the mound, the rotation will include Melton, Dawes, Van Poucke and Beever.

Beever, a hard throwing left-hander, might be the one in the group with the most potential.

“Raiff has lots of upside,” Johnson said. “It’s just a matter of him getting in, getting the work done and him developing as a player and as a pitcher in particular. He’s got a great arm. He throws it really well. It’s just a matter of him being able to establish mechanics he’s comfortable with and pitch. If we can get him honed in and get the work put in on him where he develops as a pitcher and not just as a kid with a good arm, we think he could do really well.”

The Panthers don’t have any juniors on the roster. However, the team has several sophomores and a whole slew of freshman. Another good group of eighth-graders are in line to join the team next season.

The 2013 schedule reflects the youth movement as well.

“We’re going to be playing more JV and freshman dates this season than we ever have for that reason to try and get games under those kids’ belts,” Johnson said. “Knowing that we’ve got two classes there at the end and one that we know that’s going to be coming up that has some quality players in it, we’re going to try and develop those kids as much as we can and get as much game experience from them as possible.”

The Panthers move into the 7A/6A-West Conference for baseball, though the competition isn’t unfamiliar. Siloam Springs has routinely played schools on the I-540 corridor.

“The difference is now they have stars by them on the schedule,” Johnson said. “Now they’re ‘conference’ denotes. I think this conference is as athletic, competitive and well-coached as any place in the state as far as the kids, facilities and preparation.”

The Panthers, who made the Class 5A playoffs in 2010, will automatically qualify for the Class 6A State Tournament on May 9-11 in Benton.

“When you go down to the 6A classification and you have to go down and play Benton, Pine Bluff, Lake Hamilton, those are all quality baseball clubs,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a lot like our football schedule. It’s going to be difficult. We’re hoping to try and play and get better every week where we get to that end point and we’re playing in that tournament at the end of the year.”

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