Speedy Wildcats Optimistic About Season


Springdale Har-Ber hopes to use its speed this year with players like Matt Garrison, bottom, who stole 8 of 10 bases last year as a sophomore.

Springdale Har-Ber hopes to use its speed this year with players like Matt Garrison, bottom, who stole 8 of 10 bases last year as a sophomore.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

— Springdale Har-Ber hopes to combine power with speed in an effort to challenge for conference and state baseball championships this season.

Schedule

Springdale Har-Ber Wildcats

Date Opponent Time

Feb. 25 Farmington (benefit) 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 vs. Little Rock Catholic^ 3:30 p.m.

March 6 at Bentonville$ 5 p.m.

March 7 at Rogers High$ 5 p.m.

March 8 Siloam Springs$ 5 p.m.

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

March 21-23 at Little Rock Catholic Tournament TBD

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

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

April 6 Fort Smith Northside Noon

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

April 12 at Claremore, Okla. 7:30 p.m.&

April 13 North Little Rock Noon

April 18 Fort Smith Southside 4:30 p.m.

April 19 at Bentonville (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

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

May 2 Springdale High (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

^ denotes Benton Tournament

$ denotes Best Sports Classic

& denotes Four-State Tournament

  • denotes 7A/6A-West Conference game

Catcher Winston Rasmussen will supply the power after hitting .309 with four home runs last season for the Wildcats (19-12, 7-7), who were eliminated by Conway in the quarterfinals of the Class 7A State Tournament. Rasmussen has already signed to play next season at Crowder (Mo.) Junior College.

“Winston is a three-year starter who plays the game year-round, and he’s already signed to go to college,” Har-Ber coach Randy Salsbury said. “He’s real solid behind the plate, and he’s always been able to hit the ball a long ways.”

Rasmussen should have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs with a speedy lineup that includes center fielder Matt Garrison and left fielder Gus Vitt, who are receivers on the Har-Ber football team. Garrison stole eight of 10 bases and Vitt four of five for the Wildcats, who were successful on 37 of 49 attempts last season.

“Matt Garrison is as good a center fielder as I’ve had,” Salsbury said. “He’s very competitive, and he can really run. Gus can hit a ton. He’s one of those five-tools kind of guy.”

Har-Ber will be bolstered by the return of senior right fielder Hunter Patrick, who missed last season with an injury to his rotator cuff. Patrick batted in the No. 3 position in the order and made the all-state tournament team as a sophomore.

“A lot of people don’t know about Hunter, but he was drawing Division I interest before he got hurt,” Salsbury said. “He’s healthy now, and we’re really looking for big things out of him this year. He’ll hit either leadoff or in the three-hole.”

Har-Ber’s biggest concern is on the mound following the graduation of Andrew Crook, who started 11 games and was 5-4 on the season. Left-hander John Jaro (3-2, 3.24 earned run average) and Collin Richardson (4-2, 3.60 ERA) should emerge as top pitchers for the Wildcats. Richardson is also a versatile player who hit .333 with 11 doubles last season. Salsbury is expecting improvement at the plate from shortstop Holden Thornton, who broke into the lineup last season as a sophomore.

“Collin is a senior who we’ll look to in a lot of different ways,” Salsbury said. “Holden has become a good hitter. That’s the only thing that’s held him back in the past.”

Har-Ber should be eager to get started, especially after the way last season ended for the Wildcats. Har-Ber jumped to a 6-0 lead over Conway in the state tournament before the Wampus Cats rallied for a 10-6 victory.

Har-Ber will play a benefit game at Farmington before opening its season Thursday against Little Rock Catholic in the Benton Tournament.

“We’ve got some competitive athletes and kids who’ve been in the program a while,” said Salsbury, who has 10 seniors on the team. “We can hit, we can run and we can defend.”