SILOAM SPRINGS — The Siloam Springs baseball team received a shot in the arm this offseason. Actually make that three shots in the arm.

The Panthers were on the receiving end of three move-ins. All three -- junior John Austin Earles and freshmen Chandler Cook and Chance Junkermann -- have provided a lift for Siloam Springs (1-9, 0-2), which is scheduled to play a 7A/6A-West Conference doubleheader today against Springdale High at the Tyson Sports Complex.

"It's been big for us because we don't have any seniors," said first-year Siloam Springs baseball coach Jacob Gill. "Not only did we get three more bodies, but all three are capable of helping us on the field."

Earles, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound junior, can play both corner infield positions and is the Panthers' backup catcher. He moved to Siloam Springs over Christmas break from Kennewick, Wash., where he played for Southridge High School.

Earles leads the Panthers with a .455 batting average (10-for-22) and three RBIs.

Gill said Earles is the team's overall leader in quality at-bats, making his name a constant in the lineup.

"We've got to find a spot for him simply because he can hit," Gill said.

The fact he can play multiple positions is a plus.

"I'll play wherever I'm needed," Earles said.

Earles said moving to Siloam Springs and fitting into the baseball team has been a seamless transition.

"Everyone has been real friendly," Earles said. "It's a great program to be the new kid. It's been an easy adjustment."

Cook, a 6-foot-1, 140-pound right-hander, is also a versatile player. He's played in the infield along with seeing time on the mound.

"I think I've fit in well," Cook said. "I've been able to pitch, play short and third and coach Gill and coach (Josh) Killian have shown confidence in me to be able to do that."

Cook joined the team in the summer from Neosho, Mo., where he was home-schooled. He's also home-schooled in Siloam Springs, but he is allowed to participate in athletics because of Act 1469 passed by the 2013 Arkansas Legislative session which allowed home-school students to compete in sports and other interscholastic activities. The law was nicknamed the "Tim Tebow" bill after the former college Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Florida, who started his career as a home-schooled student playing for Nease High School in Florida.

Cook pitched six innings, gave up two hits and two runs and picked up the win in the Panthers' 7-3 victory against Gravette on March 12. He's second on the team with 11 innings pitched.

"He pitches pretty well," Gill said. "We've got to get his off-speed stuff a little more consistent. He runs the bases well and is very smart out there."

Junkermann, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound left-hander, is a situational pitcher for Siloam Springs off the bench. He can also play first base. Junkermann also traveled the farthest to get to Siloam Springs, coming from Los Angeles.

Junkermann said the biggest change for him was his previous school, North Hollywood High School, had more than 3,000 students, more than double that of Siloam Springs.

"That's a pretty good change," he said.

Junkermann has pitched in five games and pitched 7 1/3 innings. His best outing came last week in an 11-4 loss at Harrison when he pitched three innings and gave up one earned run.

"I didn't come in here expecting to pitch for the varsity," Junkermann said. "Not one inning. To get the opportunity to come out here and help make an impact, it's great."

Junkermann isn't a hard-thrower, Gill said, but he does a good job in other areas.

"What he doesn't have in velocity he makes up for in location and movement," Gill said.

Sports on 04/01/2014