Five Bentonville Baseball Players Sign Letters Of Intent

BENTONVILLE -- Some baseball teams are fortunate to have just one or two of its players go on to play the sport in college.

It's no wonder Bentonville coach Todd Abbott was beaming Thursday. Five Tigers -- Troy Cahill, Payton Fitch, Will Jibas, Kane Koenigseder, Chad Musteen -- all celebrated their signings with different colleges.

"I think this says a lot of these guys and their commitment to the game," Abbott said. "All of them have worked hard and grew up playing together. It's been a blessing for us coaches in the program to have players of that caliber."

Some of them followed the paths of former Bentonville teammates in choosing their colleges. Jibas and Fitch both signed with Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods, which has former Tiger pitcher-first baseman Trenton Hill on this year's roster, while Cahill signed with Crowder College, where former teammate Chris Scroggins is on its roster this spring.

Jibas has hit .333 through Bentonville's first six games with eight runs scored and three runs batted in, while Cahill has hit .286 with five runs and three RBIs and has a 1-0 record with 1 run allowed through three innings pitched. Fitch has made three appearances as a pitcher and thrown 5 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs while striking out seven and walking four.

"I see it as an opportunity to see a lot of action," said Jibas of signing with Maple Woods, the school that also produced current major league players Albert Pujols and Logan Morrison. "I'm the only catcher they have signed this year."

Koenigseder, who has hit .500 with five runs batted in through six games this season, said his visit to Connors State and the opportunity to play both catcher and outfield led him to sign with the Warner, Okla., college. Musteen, who has hit .312 with three RBI through six games, signed with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M because it provided him with a little bit of everything.

"It keeps me close enough to home to make me feel not too far away," Musteen said. "But it's also far enough away to where I don't feel I'm at home."

Sports on 03/22/2014

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