PREP BASEBALL PREVIEW

Baker's Dozen 13 players in NWA have signed with D1 programs

FAYETTEVILLE -- Vance Arnold has seen plenty of talent in his many years of coaching, like major leaguer Blake Parker and numerous others who've gone on to stellar college baseball careers.

But even the veteran Fayetteville coach marvels at the glut of talent in Northwest Arkansas this season.

Baker’s Dozen

Name^School^College

John Boushelle^Fayetteville^Kansas State

Cody Davenport^Fayetteville^Central Arkansas

Kasey Ford^Bentonville^Kansas State

Ty Harris^Rogers Heritage^Arkansas

Grant Koch^Fayetteville^Arkansas

Kacey Murphy^Rogers Heritage^Arkansas

Andy Pagnozzi^Fayetteville^Ole Miss

Walker Powell^Fayetteville^Southern Mississippi

Jake Reindl^Shiloh Christian^Arkansas

Weston Rogers^Springdale Har-Ber^Arkansas

Paul Rouse^Bentonville^Central Arkansas

Cody Scroggins^Bentonville^Arkansas

Drew Tyler^Fayetteville^Arkansas

"This is the first time I can remember this count," said Arnold, who has told his team he will likely retire after this season. "I can remember as many as four, but this is really an amazing crop from Northwest Arkansas."

There are 13 area players who have either signed or verbally committed to play baseball at the Division I level. Six of those guys Arnold knows extremely well since they don the Purple'Dogs uniform. Six more he'll square off against in the 7A-West.

Jake Reindl is the lone non-7A player of the baker's dozen. He plays at Shiloh Christian and the right-handed pitcher inked with Arkansas in the fall. Reindl will be joined by Drew Tyler and Grant Koch of Fayetteville, Ty Harris and Kacey Murphy of Rogers Heritage, Cody Scroggins of Bentonville and Weston Rogers of Springdale Har-Ber wearing Razorback red next season.

Cody Davenport of Fayetteville and Paul Rouse of Bentonville both decided to stay in-state and signed with Central Arkansas. Fayetteville's Andy Pagnozzi is headed for Ole Miss, and high school teammate John Boushelle inked with Kansas State.

Walker Powell of Fayetteville won't play for the Purple'Dogs this year because of an injury, but he's signed with Southern Mississippi. Bentonville's Kasey Ford, who helped guide the Tigers to a Class 7A state football championship earlier this year, is only a junior but has verbally committed to play baseball at Kansas State.

Arnold and Bentonville coach Todd Abbott also pointed out that something else that makes this group special is the number of standout pitchers that will be on display in the 7A-West Conference.

Pagnozzi, Harris, Rogers, Murphy and Boushelle are all signed as pitchers and their fastballs are all in the 88-90 mph-range.

Arnold and Abbott agreed runs will likely be at a premium this season.

"You're not gonna play for a big inning," Arnold said. "There are lots of talented guys, even more than the D-1 guys. These kids are seniors. They aren't gonna rattle. We'll play for one or two runs and hope our pitching and defense can hold them down."

Both coaches said most of these players have committed to baseball early on and played at a high level almost year-round.

"Several of the guys have played for Tom Pagnozzi's organization and been exposed to a very high level of baseball," Arnold said. "They have experienced good coaching even before they came to us."

But Abbott said while the physical skills are being targeted the mental side of the game isn't being taught as much in the age of showcases.

"In this time of indoor facilities, they are refining their skills," Abbott said. "But maybe the understanding as far as situational type things isn't there as much. The physically skills are being refined at a much faster rate than the mental part of the game."

Harris and Murphy will form a nice 1-2 punch on the mound for Heritage. Murphy enjoyed a big season both on the mound and at the plate as a junior. Harris pitched only two innings a year ago, coming off Tommy John surgery, but hit 90 mph in a fall showcase in Jupiter, Fla.

The fact that there's lots of pitching talent in the 7A-West could make it tough on offenses, but Harris said the hitters will adapt, too.

"They see good pitching every night in this league," Harris said. "They are not intimidated. Some of these guys they've seen over and over and they adjust. I'm kind of different because they haven't seen me. But it's hard. One mistake can cost you a game.

"That's what makes this conference so great," Murphy added.

Murphy understands firsthand how tough the league can be. The left-hander performed well and earned all-state honors a year ago, but struggled against Fayetteville's lineup.

"I was at 75 pitches in the fourth inning," Murphy said. "They have a tough hitting lineup."

Last season, Fort Smith Southside's Ty Harpenau, who signed with Texas Tech, silenced Fayetteville's bats and came away with a 1-0 win. And yes, Harpenau is back and adds to the depth of talent in the league.

Sports on 03/02/2015

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