It’s the third time Rogers Heritage baseball coach Keith Kilgore has been a part of the Xtra Innings Classic, but the 10th annual event is a little different this year.
The event — Monday and Tuesday at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro — is still designed to showcase the top baseball underclassmen in Arkansas in front of college coaches and professional scouts in game and practice situations. However, the selection process was altered this year, event organizer Jewell Etta Chastain said.
Players have been divided by geographic region (Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest) to make four different teams of 22 players in the past. This year, the coaches of each of the four teams drafted players, Chastain said.
“We did it to add a little bit of fun for the coaches, but also we were afraid we might be overlooking some players by limiting it by region,” Chastain said. “This way we can have a better chance to choose the best 88 players.”
There could be more good pitchers from Northwest Arkansas than in another region in a given year, and a few could be left out since each roster was limited to just 22 players. Coaches also must select a minimum of 10 players, who are primarily pitchers.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Chastain said. “It’s something we tried. We’re always looking for ways to improve it.”
Kilgore’s team, called the Dirtbags, has five area players, including his son, Chase, and Heritage’s Colton Wetzler. He admitted familiarity is a big reason why.
“You know as well as I do, it always goes back to what you know,” Kilgore said. “It goes back to personal experience. It was fun. I’m looking forward to working with the kids. It’s turned into a bigger and better event every year. It’s a great opportunity for players to be seen.”
Brett D’Amico of Rogers High, Gus Vitt of Springdale Har-Ber and Matt Sherry of Springdale High were also selected by the Dirtbags.
Shiloh Christian coach Jimmy Harris will serve as a coach of the Lugnuts. He selected Ty Tice of Prairie Grove. Because of the draft process, coaches weren’t guaranteed of getting their own players, and that’s happened with Harris. Jared Boyett of Shiloh Christian was selected by the Diamond Jacks, coached by Conway’s Noel Boucher.
Teammates were also not guaranteed to play together. For instance, Vitt’s Har-Ber teammate Jon Mitchell was selected to play for the Lookouts, coached by Hot Springs Lakeside’s Andy Runyan.
Timmy Seldomridge of Rogers was also selected by the Diamond Jacks, while Aaron Means of Gravette and J.D. Speed of Prairie Grove will play for the Lookouts.
Xtra Innings Classic
Team Rosters
Diamond Jacks
Name School
Jace Hudson Clarksville
Jacob Richardson, Woodlawn
Jared Boyett Shiloh Christian-#
Trevor Ezell Bryant
Landon McFadden Wynne
Timmy Seldomridge Rogers High-#
Austen Martin Brookland
Dawson Moser DeWitt
Cade Jones Conway
Kirk Baugh White Hall
Tucker Harris Greene County Tech
Nathan Wright Greene County Tech
Chris Eastburn Lake Hamilton
Brandon Warner Bryant
Silas Huskey Harrison
Evan Wilson Conway
Chase Imhoff Sylan Hills
Brandy Brown Jonesboro
Danny Mitchell North Little Rock
Peyton White Marion
Cole Jenkins Little Rock Parkview
Kamron Hurt Subiaco Academy
Coaches:
Noel Boucher Conway
Preston Despain Brookland
Wes McCrotty Pottsville
Dirtbags
Name School
Christian James Lonoke
Zac Pinter Little Rock Catholic
Chase Kilgore Rogers Heritage-#
Jack Thomas Central Arkansas Christian
Landen Colson Watson Chapel
Cole Ridling Genoa Central
Korey Thompson Bryant
Bradley Eversole Van Buren
Brett D’Amico Rogers High-#
William Hancock Little Rock Catholic
Robert Thompkins Taylor
Nicholas Brown Nettleton
Colby Johnson Benton
Cane Malnar White County Central
Nash Nichols Conway St. Joseph
Gus Vitt Springdale Har-Ber-#
Jack Partlow Central Arkansas Christian
Colton Wetzler Rogers Heritage-#
Paxton Thomas Little Rock Christian
Preston Oberling North Little Rock
Matt Sherry Springdale High-#
Garrett Harrington Crossett
Coaches:
Kieth Kilgore Rogers Heritage-#
Dustin Wolcott Crossett
Joe Allbritton Mayflower
Lookouts
Name School
Zac Harrington Magnolia
Bo Ritter Hot Springs Lakeside
Marcus Fisher Hot Springs Lakeside
Jon Mitchell Springdale Har-Ber-#
Zachary Patterson Cabot
Aaron Means Gravette-#
Connor Beam McCrory
Matthew Ward Charleston
Riley Knudsen Cabot
Jordan Burns Mayflower
Logan Clark Smackover
Ty Owens El Dorado
Cameron Wilkins Vilonia
Austin White Arkadelphia
Mason Gibson Nettleton
J.D. Speed Prairie Grove-#
Austin Pittman Greenwood
Tucker Hydrick Valley View
Cade Sisemore Fort Smith Northside
Austin Calhoun Harding Academy
Carter Lane Conway
Coaches:
Andy Runyan Hot Springs Lakeside
Sam Tyler El Dorado
Brad Wallace Vilonia
Lugnuts
Name School
Micheal Post Mayflower
Braden Chambers Fordyce
Ty Tice Prairie Grove-#
Kade Caudle Horatio
Austin Robinson Russellville
Dillon Groves Brookland
Blake Wiggins Pulaski Academy
Brian Krikorian Benton
Reed Wingo Jonesboro
Mark Moyer Russellville
Ashton Holyfield Malvern
Nate Alberius Little Rock Christian
Nick Graves Lonoke
Jakahari Howell Arkadelphia
T.J. Burrow Sylvan Hills
Hayden Weaver Vilonia
Brandon Wolski Booneville
Joshua Dardenne Watson Chapel
Ku’Ron Summons Maumelle
Derek St. Clair Jacksonville
Gray Fenter West Memphis
Coaches:
Jimmy Harris Shiloh Christian-#
Darrick Lowery Lonoke
Barrett Davis Maumelle
The # denotes a local player or coach.