Baseball Role changes don't faze Shiloh Christian's Clark

Shiloh Christian’s Connor Clark has been strong on the mound and at the plate to help the Saints return to the state title game. He is hitting a team-high .446 and tied for the team lead with 31 RBIs. He also is 3-1 with eight saves on the mound.
Shiloh Christian’s Connor Clark has been strong on the mound and at the plate to help the Saints return to the state title game. He is hitting a team-high .446 and tied for the team lead with 31 RBIs. He also is 3-1 with eight saves on the mound.

SPRINGDALE -- Connor Clark and the rest of the Shiloh Christian Saints haven't forgotten last year's loss to Nashville in the Class 4A state baseball finals.

Each team member has the 4-1 score written inside their hat. They got another reminder last week since the state tournament was played at Nashville, Clark said.

Arkansas State Championships

Today

Softball

At Benton High School

Class 2A Poyen vs. Quitman, 10 a.m

Class 4A Bauxite vs. Pottsville, 12:30 p.m.

Class 1A Taylor vs. Concord, 3 p.m.

Class 7A Bentonville High vs. Bentonville West, 5:30 p.m.

Baseball

At Baum Stadium, Fayetteville

Class 3A Horatio vs. Harding Academy, 10 a.m.

Class 5A Sylvan Hills vs. Watson Chapel, 12:30 p.m.

Class 1A Woodlawn vs. SS Bee Branch, 3 p.m.

Class 7A Conway vs. Springdale Har-Ber, 5:30 p.m.

Soccer

At Razorback Field, Fayetteville

7A Girls Bryant vs. Rogers High, 10 a.m.

7A Boys FS Northside vs. Rogers High, noon

6A Girls Siloam Springs vs. Benton, 2 p.m.

6A Boys Siloam Springs vs. Russellville, 4 p.m.

Saturday

Softball

At Benton High School

Class 5A Farmington vs. Greenbrier, 10 a.m.

Class 3A Rosebud vs. Harmony Grove-Haskell, 12:30 p.m.

Class 6A Marion vs. Sheridan, 3 p.m.

Baseball

At Baum Stadium, Fayetteville

Class 4A Nashville vs. Shiloh Christian, 10 a.m.

Class 2A Parkers Chapel vs. Spring Hill, 12:30 p.m.

Class 6A Benton vs. Greenwood, 3 p.m.

Soccer

At Razorback Field, Fayetteville

5A Girls Pulaski Academy vs. LR Christian, 10 a.m.

5A Boys Lakeside vs. Valley View, noon

4A Girls CAC vs. Berryville, 2 p.m.

4A Boys Warren vs. Berryville, 4 p.m.

"We looked at their state championship banner after every game as motivation," Clark said.

The Saints (23-6) get a chance at redemption when they take on Nashville in a Class 4A state finals rematch at 10 a.m. Saturday in Baum Stadium.

Clark, a senior three-year starter, has played a big role in helping Shiloh Christian return to the title game, but he's dealt with some changes, too.

The right-hander switched from starter to closer this season and hasn't missed a beat, going 3-1 with eight saves and a 1.62 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 34.2 innings. The Allen County (Kan.) Community College signee also leads the team in batting average (.446) and is tied for the lead with 31 RBIs, but he's also bounced around in the batting order.

Shiloh Christian coach Moe Henry said he moved Clark early in the season from his customary spot in the three-hole to lead-off to provide a spark and Clark did just that. But he has since moved back to hitting third late in the season.

Henry was concerned about the continuity of the infield defense moving Clark to shortstop since he was such a vital part on the mound, too. But others have stepped forward to allow Henry to use Clark in that closer role.

Clark admitted he wasn't sure about not pitching as much, but the role grew on him.

"It was fun coming in (the game) in big situations," Clark said. "But it's harder to get a feel for what you've got as a reliever. You've got to figure it out pretty fast."

Henry said Clark's matured quite a bit from a year ago and handled the changes well.

"No doubt the first thing that pops into my mind is his ability to shake it off so to speak," Henry said. "Last year you didn't have to wonder what he was thinking, he would show you. If an umpire would squeeze him or if he popped out at the plate, he was emotionally elaborate.

"That was something I wanted him to work on because if you're a guy on the mound the other guys can't see you freaking out, breaking down. He's taken leaps and bounds. That's been a difference in him. In our conference, he could have gone anywhere else and probably been their number one guy. I think it's a testament to that maturity knowing he didn't get to be on the mound nearly as much as he wanted to. He handled that well."

There's no question Clark is a key cog offensively, too, Henry said.

"Whenever teams look at our lineup, one of the first people they look for is to see where Connor is in our lineup," Henry said. "Talking to other coaches, they feel like he's our best all-around hitter. They can't shift him anywhere because he has the ability to hit to all fields. He's gonna be one who's a handful when he's on base. He's probably got more craftiness and baseball instinct than he does overall speed, but he's so good at understanding the game."

Clark said this year's team is better offensively than last, which makes a pitcher's job easier.

"We've scored 35 runs in three state tournament games," Clark said. "When we won it two years ago, it was more pitching and defense."

The Saints are hoping that offense leads them to their own banner season.

Sports on 05/18/2018

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