Bentonville Tigers
Coach: Todd Abbott
2014 Record: 21-8
Players to Watch: Cody Scroggins (Sr., 6-0, 175, SS/P), Brian Gloeckler (Sr., 6-0, 195,OF), Paul Rouse (Sr., 5-10, 170, OF), Blake Werner (Sr., 5-9, 170, 2B), Ben Nordin (Sr., 5-9, 205, 1B/DH), Preston Rosales (Sr., 6-1, 175, P), Kasey Ford (Jr., 6-5, 240, P/1B), Matt Bratspies (Jr., 6-2, 195, C/1B), Carter Brown (Jr., 6-0, 195, P/C)
Newcomers to Watch: Drew Young (Jr., 6-1, 205, P), Destyn Adkins (Soph., 5-10, 165, OF)
Outlook: Scroggins, who signed with Arkansas in November, hit .380 with 18 runs batted in and 17 runs scored, and also pitched 17 innings with a 1.65 earned run average. ... Rouse signes his letter of intent with Central Arkansas after he hit .263 with 12 runs batted in, 22 runs scored and three triples. ... Rosales and Ford tied for the team lead with six victories last season. Rosales (6-2) struck out 48 and had a 2.82 earned run average over 49.2 innings, while Ford (6-5) struck out 58 and had a 1.86 ERA over 56.1 innings.
The Lingo: "We are looking forward to this spring season. We graduated several quality seniors last year and this year's seniors are looking to have the same positive/quality impact in our program again this spring. We return a bulk of our innings from last year on the mound and look to be competitive each day out." -- Todd Abbott
-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry
Fayetteville Bulldogs
Coach: Vance Arnold
2014 Record: 31-4
Players To Watch: Andy Pagnozzi (Sr., 6-1, 205, P/3B), Cody Davenport (Sr., 6-1, 210, P/OF), Grant Koch (Sr., 6-0, 200, C), Drew Tyler (Sr., 6-0, 190, SS).
Newcomers To Watch: Robbie Briggs (Jr., 6-3, 195, 1B/3B), Marco Morris (Sr., 6-0, 200, 3B).
Outlook: The bulk of last year's Class 7A state runner-up team and a group which has won 58 games in the last two seasons is back with as much veteran, championship experience as anyone around. The Purple'Dogs feature one of top arms in the 7A-West in Ole Miss signee Andy Pagnozzi and should have plenty of pitching depth to replace graduated ace Kyle Pate. ... Fayetteville's offense could be even better this season, as Davenport - a Central Arkansas signee - and Koch and Tyler, both Arkansas signees, bring plenty of pop. ... Coach Vance Arnold has set this as his final season with the Bulldogs and anything short of another state championship might be considered a disappointment.
The Lingo: "The kids want to hang another championship banner on that wall. Our goal is win the conference as undefeated champs and that's a daunting task, and then we want to finish it off with a state championship." -- Vance Arnold
-- Vernon Tarver • @NWAVernon
Rogers Heritage War Eagles
Coach: Keith Kilgore
2014 Record: 15-13
Players To Watch: Kacey Murphy (Sr., 6-0, 180 LHP/1B), Ty Harris (Sr., 6-1, 175 LHP/OF), Chase Kilgore (Sr., 5-11, 165 SS/CF), Logan Easley (So., 5-11, 165 2B/P).
Newcomers To Watch: Trey Kitterman (Fr., 6-1, 205 C/IF), Dylan Qualls (Fr., 6-1, 175 IF/OF).
Outlook: Harris and Murphy each signed to play at Arkansas and should form potent 1-2 punch on the mound. ... Harris pitched just two innings a year ago, recovering from Tommy John surgery, but hit .337 and was second on the team with 28 RBIs. ... Murphy earned all-state honors, hitting a team-best .488 with 3 home runs and 27 RBIs to go with a 6-3, 2.46 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 54 innings. ... Chase Kilgore, who signed with Pittsburg State, gives Heritage spark plug in the leadoff spot, drawing 25 walks a year ago and stealing 30 bases. ... Kilgore will also move from center field to shorstop this season. ... Heritage lost in the first round of the state tournament a year ago, after failing to make the tournament the year before.
The Lingo: "I'm excited about this year's group. We have a group with a great work ethic and a desire to acheive. Our pitching should be a strength. We return five guys with experience, but will look at several different people early in a couple of spots." -- Keith Kilgore
-- Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulb
Rogers High Mounties
Coach: Matt Melson
2014 Record: 15-13, 7-7 7A-West
Players To Watch: Derek Salle (Sr., 6-2, 175, P/INF); Billy Treacy (Sr.,6-0, 218, P); Sage White (Jr.,5-9, 173, OF); Jacob Ivey (Sr., 5-9, 160, C).
Newcomers To Watch: Will Sanders (Sr., 6-2, 220, P), Grayson Lee (Soph., 5-10, 175, OF), Kyle Eason (Jr., 5-10, 190, P).
Outlook: Rogers must replace seven starters from a team that advanced to the Class 7A State Tournament. ... Sallee (2-1, 3.66 ERA) may fill the role as the Mounties closer and will play at second base and shortstop. ... White, who batted .397 last season, brings experience to the Mounties outfield but will move to center field and hit at the top of the lineup. ... Treacy has had a solid preseason and will figure into the starting rotation on the mound. ... Jacob Ivey returns at catcher. ... Sophomore Grayson Lee, one of the Mounties better athletes, will also help in the outfield.
The Lingo: "It's going to be challenge replacing seven starters, and we will have to have people expand their leadership roles. Almost everybody that starts this year will be newcomers, so there are a lot of unknowns. At the same time, our conference is very challenging." -- Matt Melson
-- Paul Nielsen @NWAPaul
Springdale High Bulldogs
Coach: Shohn Doty
2014 Record: 8-22
Players To Watch: Payton Perry (Sr., 6-1, 160, OF), Austin Solberg (Sr., 6-2, 160, RHP), Zach Stith (Sr., 6-1, 175, RHP/OF), Trevor Beadle (Sr., 5-6, 180, C), Carson Johnson (Jr., 5-10, 165, SS), Kyler Johnston (Jr., 5-10, 160, RHP).
Newcomers To Watch: Logan Carr (Soph., 5-6, 160, 3B/P).
Outlook: Doty, a Springdale graduate, was hired in the summer after spending 20 years coaching collegiately, including the previous nine as associate head coach at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. ... Junior OF Hunter Necessary is team's top returning hitter (.349 BA). ... Carson Johnson hit .319 with a team-best .456 on-base percentage and a team-high 18 runs scored. ... Kyler Johnston is the most experienced returning pitcher. He went 1-4 with a 5.75 ERA in 12 appearances last year.
The Lingo: "I think it is important for our club to get off to a fast start. We play seven of our first eight games at home and are very familiar and comfortable in this environment. ... This team has quality senior leadership and their level of expectations for this season is on par with our coaching staff. We believe Springdale baseball should be a state tournament team year in and year out and our challenge is start that upward trend this season." -- Shohn Doty
-- Jimmy Carter • @NWAJimmy
Springdale Har-Ber Wildcats
Coach: Ron Bradley
2014 Record: 22-9
Players To Watch: Weston Rogers (Sr., 6-4, 200, LHP), Brady Patrick (Jr., 6-1, 160, OF/P), Zach Stanley (Sr., 6-3, 190, OF).
Newcomers To Watch: Reed Fell (Sr. 6-0, 170, IF)
Outlook: Former Rogers (Okla.) State coach Ron Bradley takes over for Randy Salsbury, who resigned after last season. ... LHP Weston Rogers committed to Arkansas after he posted 7-3 record as a junior with a 1.01 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 592/3 innings. ... Brady Patrick, another lefty who broke into the lineup as a freshman, returns after he hit .336 and went 3-3 on the mound with a 3.21 ERA as a sophomore. ... Infielder Reed Fell transferred from Kansas, Okla., where he batted .403 and was 23-for-23 in stolen bases. ... Little Rock Central eliminated Har-Ber 3-0 in the first round of the state playoffs last year on a two-hitter by Joey Abraham, who signed with Vanderbilt.
The Lingo: "I'm very pleased with our talent at Har-Ber. We've got good speed, good arms, and good athletes. I'm looking forward to seeing how they perform this spring." -- Ron Bradley
-- Rick Fires • @NWARick
Sports on 03/02/2015