ROGERS -- NorthWest Arkansas Community College may only field a club baseball team, but over the past several years the Eagles have held their own against college quality opponents.
The Eagles are coached former college player Mike Hatch, and the program has continued to grow over the past several years.
Luke Treece – Shiloh Christian (NWACC 2011-13), *North Arkansas College, Harrison and Colby Junior College (Kan.)
Michael Upton – Springdale High (NWACC 2010), *North Arkansas College
Tony Shipp – Springdale High (NWACC 2010), *North Arkansas College & Central Methodist University, Fayette, Mo.
Davie Copeland – Elkins (NWACC 2009), *North Arkansas College
Buddy Diaville – Elkins (NWACC 2010), *Arkansas-Pine Bluff & Northeastern State, Tahlequah, Okla.
Devin Bench – Springdale Har-Ber (NWACC 2011), *Centenary College, Shreveport, La.
Levi Schroeder – Fayetteville (NWACC 2011), * North Arkansas College & Northeastern State University
Tyler Higgs – Fayetteville (NWACC 2010), * Pratt JC & North Arkansas College
Zach Guillians - Springdale High (NWACC 2010), * North Arkansas College
Justin Marks – Springdale High (NWACC 2012), *Allen County (Kan.) CC & North Arkansas College
Brennon Webb – Gravette (NWACC 2012), *Ecclesia College, Cave Springs
The Eagles are playing a 10-game schedule this summer, and there are 21 players on the roster. Many of the Eagles' opponents are teams from area summer collegiate leagues and since 2009, 11 NWACC players have earned scholarships to either other junior college programs or NAIA schools.
"They are mostly from Northwest Arkansas," Hatch said. "We play a lot of local teams from Wood Bat leagues, summer leagues. Over the last few years, we have had a number of players go on to play college ball."
Hatch has been the coach at NWACC for three years and has a solid baseball background.
Hatch played high school baseball in Mount Pleasant, Texas, where current Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn recruited him to play at Texarkana (Texas) Junior College. After two seasons playing for Van Horn, Hatch went to the University of Houston when the school was still in the old Southwest Conference.
Hatch said he learned a lot playing for Van Horn from 1991-92.
"It was incredible and one of the greatest feelings I have ever had just playing college baseball," Hatch said. "He taught me a lot on how to play the game, and be a man, too. I had a lot of teaching along the way there that helped further my career. I give a lot of credit to coach Van Horn."
At Houston, Hatch played for the late Bragg Stockton, who later went on to coach at Texas Christian.
"The Southwest Conference was very competitive," Hatch said. "Even today, you see a lot of the old Southwest Conference teams at the College World Series. Bragg Stockton was a great college coach."
Hatch said he would like the baseball program at NWACC to become more than just a club sport.
"We are in a great location for junior college baseball," Hatch said. "There are a lot of big name baseball programs in the area. This could be a mecca and we could keep players from going to other states and keep them at home. I could see us competing at the junior college level. This would be a great start because NWACC is a great place to get an education."
Sports on 07/28/2014