Young Red'Dogs off to solid start

Greenland hosts Jarren Sorters tournament over spring break

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANTHONY REYES @NWATONYR Ben Roach (13) has also helped out on the mound some in relief as well as behind the plate as Springdale High is off to a strong start to the season this year.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANTHONY REYES @NWATONYR Ben Roach (13) has also helped out on the mound some in relief as well as behind the plate as Springdale High is off to a strong start to the season this year.

Springdale High

The Red Bulldogs are off to a strong start under second-year coach Scott Johnson.

Springdale (7-2, 2-0) swept Rogers Heritage to begin 7A-West Conference play earlier this week and Johnson's team is succeeding with mostly underclassmen.

Second baseman Sabino Nino is the lone senior starter, but the others have grown up quickly, Johnson said.

"We've thrown these kids into the fire," Johnson said. "We've played a much tougher schedule. The story of my team is we've won so many close games because we find a way to scrap and win.

"I think the kids are competing at a much higher level this year. Our defense has been much better. Our pitchers are are doing a much better job throwing strikes and we've been very good in the bunt game. So far, we've swung it better than I anticipated."

Starting catcher Ben Roach has also worked some on the mound this season in relief and has a 3-0 record with a save. Junior Tanner Sargent is also 3-0 on the mound.

Freshman Cooper Combs and junior Dylan Rollins have supplied the offense along with Nino and Sargent. Rollins has been dealing with an elbow problem, but could help on the mound later in the season, Johnson said.

Springdale will play in a tournament in Little Rock over spring break.

Fayetteville

Purple Bulldogs coach Scott Gallagher acknowledged he's still searching for a set lineup even though 7A-West Conference play started this week.

Fayetteville returns only three or four positions players who saw any varsity playing time.

"We have tried a lot of different combinations so far, Gallagher said. "We've started, at times, three or four sophomores. We're looking for a couple more guys to step up. We hope to find out a little more when we go to Phoenix next week. We'll play four games, maybe five."

Fayetteville (5-3-1, 1-1 7A-West) split two games with Bentonville, losing an early 3-0 lead that turned into a 5-4 loss before bouncing back with a 2-0 win. The Purple'Dogs don't return many with varsity experience, but seniors Jacob Davenport and Miller Pleimann give some stability on the mound.

Pleimann has signed with Wichita State, while Davenport has inked a letter of intent with Allen County Community College. Davenport came on with two on and one out in the seventh to get the final two outs for the save on Tuesday and that will likely be his role in conference play, Gallagher said.

"He's led us in appearances the last two years and I just really trust him," Gallagher said. "He's proven himself and just doesn't get rattled in the moment."

Senior Weston Tate has been Fayetteville's top hitter thus far and he only got 11 varsity at-bats last season.

"He's just been really solid," Gallagher said. "He'd never caught before this year and we moved him back there and he's done a nice job for us."

Greenland

The Pirates (6-2) are hoping to make another run to the Class 3A finals this season, returning several key players from last year's state runner-up team.

Senior Austin Anderson returns as Greenland's ace on the mound and started in the state finals a year ago. Lead-off man Chandler Alaniz was an all-state selection as a junior, too. Hunter Cartwright threw some big innings a year ago, but likely slots into the closer's role this season, Greenland coach Will McGinnis said.

Will Overton, a returner at first base, will likely be the Pirates' No. 2 starter on the mound. Luke Osborn started every game at third base as a freshman, but has matured this season, McGinnis said.

"Being a freshman, it was all new to him," McGinnis said. "But he's gone from being good enough to be in the lineup to being a man. It's not a surprise because of how hard he works in the weight room. We knew it was coming."

Greenland will host the Jarren Sorters Memorial Tournament over spring break.

The tournament is named in honor of the 15-year-old from Prairie Grove, who died of cancer in 2016. The tournament was started last year at Prairie Grove, but the Tigers are going to play in Arizona over spring break this year.

McGinnis said Greenland athletic director Lee Larkan was close with the family and wanted to see that the tournament continued.

"It might be something that we keep or maybe it will go back and forth between us," McGinnis said.

Van Buren

The Pointers (7-1, 2-0 7A-West) return several position players from last year's state tournament team, but both conference starters are now pitching in college.

"We lost two good pitchers and we're trying to replace them," Van Buren coach David Loyd said. "We're still searching a little bit, but so far, so good."

Junior Trevor Johnson has stepped in nicely and he picked up the win in the conference opener, allowing just one earned run over six innings. Evan Jones and Landrey Wilkerson have also pitched well at times, Loyd said. Jones picked up the save for Johnson with a scoreless inning of relief.

"He's done a really nice job," Loyd said. "He threw some nonconference stuff for us last year, but he's been a surprise. He beat Jonesboro."

The Pointers have hit the ball pretty well, too, thus far. They jumped to a 12-2 lead against Bentonville West, but had to hold off a late rally for the 14-9 win and the sweep.

Greenwood

Bulldogs coach Trey Holloway said his team has probably only played two bad innings thus far this season, but they cost them two wins.

Greenwood (7-2) lost 2-1 thanks to a pair of unearned runs in the seventh against Alma, then 6-4 in the season-opener to Boonevile. That one was also aided by three unearned runs.

But that's why Holloway stresses more than wins and losses.

"We all want to state championships and conference championships," Holloway said. "But we try to teach them the ultimate goal to learn how to work hard and finish empty and to give everything you have on the field, at home and in the classroom. I want to teach them to be good husbands and good people."

The Bulldogs were dealt another blow recently when third baseman Ryan Daggs was likely lost for the season with a knee injury. But Holloway said those are the things a team has to endure.

They return a nice core of players, who lost 1-0 in the state semifinals last season, led by Arkansas signee Connor Noland. Catcher Jake Smith, center fielder Colton Sagely and shortstop Peyton Holt are also key players.

"That's a pretty good straight line up the middle with Connor, Jake, Holt and Colton in center field," Holloway said.

Preps Basketball on 03/16/2018

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