SPRINGDALE — A pair of Springdale Har-Ber baseball players signed national letters of intent on Thursday to extend their careers to the collegiate level.
Infielder Collin Richardson and right-handed pitcher Zach Thompson signed with junior college programs Connors State and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, respectively, in front of a large group of family, coaches and teammates in the Wildcat fieldhouse.
“Collin has been a versatile player for us, a top-of-the-order hitter and guy who can play just about anywhere,” Wildcats coach Randy Salsbury said. “He’s aggressive at the plate.”
Salsbury said Richardson batted close to .350 last spring and had 28 RBIs in helping the Wildcats reach the Class 7A state tournament.
Thompson was a 7A/6A-West Conference starter for the Wildcats with an ERA under 2.00 with 5-6 wins, Salsbury said.
“Zach is a guy that is not afraid of any situation you put him in,” Salsbury said. “Bases loaded, close game, it doesn’t matter. He competes. He wants the ball.”
Richardson said he caught the eye of Connors State coaches at a tryout last spring.
“Coach Perry Keith and the coaches at Connors have been in contact with me for a long time,” Richardson said. “It’s great to get this done today, so that I can focus on my senior year and helping us win a championship.”
Thompson has a family connection at NEO, located in Miami, Okla. He also arranged a tryout with the Norsemen.
“My major is going to be agriculture business, and my cousin is in the ag program at NEO,” he said. “Getting this done today, it’s awesome to know where I’m going to be next fall and I can go through the season not worrying about what’s next.”