NWA Sr. Babe Ruth All-Stars set for state tournament
Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Northwest Arkansas Senior Babe Ruth League might be over for the year, but the competition is about to really to heat up.
The NWA SBR 17-18-yearold All-Star team, made up of the some of the league's top talent, will open play Saturday at the North Arkansas state tournament in Green Forest. The tournament winner advances to the regional in El Dorado.
This is just the second year for the NWA SBR league to send an All-Star team into tournament play. The 2007 NWA team won the North Arkansas state tournament played in Ozark and advanced to the Southwest Regional in Denham Springs, La., where it finished fourth.
Scott Burnett, NWA SBR League president and coach of the Springdale Tyson team, will also act as skipper for the All-Star team. Burnett will deploy a roster full of allconference baseball players - and two all-state players, Seth Pitts (Lincoln ) and Randon Webb (Pea Ridge ).
Pitts joins Korey Ayers, Cody Smith and Trevor Center as members of Lincoln High's state semifinalist baseball team to suit up for the All-Stars. Though dealing with some arm issues, Center looks strong as the team's starting center fielder, Burnett said.
"Realistically, all four of [the Lincoln players ] could be in our staring lineup," Burnett said.
Burnett's SBR league champion Springdale Tyson squad will also be well-represented on the All-Star team with Joseph Boone (Greenland High ), Jacob Crayne (Har-Ber ), Trevor Mitchell (Greenland ), Brad Rogers (Greenland ) and Michael Upton (Springdale ).
With Gravette star pitcher Ethan McKinzie not participating due to other commitments, the team will field several aces rather than just one. In addition to Lincoln's Smith and Springdale's Crayne and Upton, the Greenland High trio of Mitchell, Rogers and Randall Schwab will be in the mix for starting duty on the mound.
The All-Stars can also call on Lincoln's Center and Ayers, Elkins'Trenton Jones, Gravette's Hayden McAfee and Gentry's Matt Pierce for pitching duty if needed.
"Last year, our depth at starting pitching was light, especially at the regional tournament," Burnett said. "That's why as coaches we made a concerted effort to get kids that are starting pitchers in high school."
Springdale's dynamic Upton will more than likely be the team's leadoff hitter.
"During the season, he batted close to. 600," Burnett said. "He has wheels and can hit the ball about everywhere with power.
"He's the most underrated player on the roster."
Upton, who was also a standout receiver for the Red Bulldogs football team, will likely play second base.
"With him at second and Pitts at shortstop, I don't think anything's going to get through the middle, unless it's a line drive," Burnett said.
Greenland High's Boone went 8-for-10 at the plate during the NWA SBR league tournament. Boone or powerhitting first baseman Webb will likely bat clean-up. Pitts and Center are also accomplished hitters.
Burnett is assisted by firstbase coach David DeBoard and first-year pitching coach JR Cooper, a former Arkansas State and minor league player.
"The one thing we really lacked last year as coaches was anyone who was really strong pitching-wise," Burnett said. "We took the opportunity to call JR and it's already made a difference. The pitchers especially have gotten a big benefit of having his expertise out there."
They will face the winner of the Jonesboro-Boone County matchup.
The six-team, doubleelimination tournament runs through Monday, with a possible "if necessary"game on Tuesday.
The NWA Age 16 All-Stars will also be playing in a state tournament, running simultaneously with the Age 18 tournament at Green Forest. The Age 16 team is made up of mostly players from Benton County. Prairie Grove's Walker Gragg and Elkins'Hunter Guffey are the two Washington County players listed on the Age 16 roster.
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