Inexperienced Titans hope to peak late
Jacksonville finished third in the 6A East last year behind Jonesboro and Mountain Home to reach the Class 6A State Tournament. But “inexperienced” is the best adjective to describe the Titans as the 2018 season kicks off. “We are a very inexperienced team with only two guys who had more than 30 atbats back offensively and only two guys who threw more than 10 innings,” coach Larry Burrows said. Back are senior catcher/pitcher Peyton Williams, senior center fielder Gabe Helsley, senior pitcher Foster Rash and sophomore pitcher Kyle Williams. Peyton Williams moves from first base to catcher this spring. He batted .323 as a junior. Helsley, who has signed with the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, hit .343 last season. Burrows said he expects the two to hit better than .300 again in their final season for the Titans. Senior Jonathan Smith and sophomore Bryce Overman will hit at the top of the order. Rash and Peyton Williams have gap potential, the coach said. The coach named Smith, the shortstop, as the Titans’ best fielder. Seniors DeBoious Cobbs, Robert Johnson and Helsley lead the team in speed and will man the outfield. Burrows said Peyton Williams has the best arm, with “lots of upside in terms of velocity.” Pitchingwise, the coach said, he is “expecting big things” out of senior Williams; Rash, a signee at Central Baptist College in Conway; and junior left-hander Jacob McCaa. Last year, Jacksonville lost to Texarkana in the opening round of the Class 6A State Tournament, 11-1. Jonesboro was the only East team to advance past the opening round. After a first-round bye, the Hurricanes beat Pine Bluff in the quarterfinals, 11-3; and Benton in the semifinals, 5-0; before falling to Sheridan in the championship at the University of Arkansas’ Baum Stadium, 3-1. To return to the state tournament, the Titans must finish among the top six in the 6A East District Tournament. There they’ll compete against Jonesboro, Little Rock Hall, Marion, Mountain Home, Pine Bluff, Searcy and West Memphis. During the regular season, Jacksonville will compete in combined conference 5A/6A District 4 with J.A. Fair, Little Rock Christian, Little Rock Hall, Little Rock Parkview, Maumelle, Pulaski Academy and Sylvan Hills. “Our expectations are to compete every day and gain experience as we go,” Burrows said. “We want to be playing our best at the end of the year.”