Diamond Leopards use summer offseason training to enhance overall team development
“I AM PROUD OF THE COMMITMENT TO GET BETTER AND THE GROWTH THAT OUR KIDS HAVE DISPLAYED THIS SUMMER.... WE HAVE GROWN IN OUR OVERALL STRENGTH, EXPERIENCE, BASEBALL IQ AND ABILITY TO MAKE THE ROUTINE PLAYS WITH A HIGHER FREQUENCY....”
Now with the Dead Week period in effect authorized by the Arkansas Activities Association, the hometown Malvern Leopards put together a productive offseason baseball journey on the diamond for their summer schedule in May and early June. With several coaching changes throughout the state, the Leopards haven’t been able to compete against certain teams. Malvern baseball head coach Jordan Knight continued to stay optimistic and positive to make adjustments to their summer schedule and keep the Leopards intact to compete.
Knight was pleased by how the team’s dedication remained steady despite the cancellations that occurred by the credibility of numerous coaching moves around the state. The Leopards were able to provide some topnotch production from a variety of the hometown performers and maintain productive concentration to make plays in their execution.
“I am proud of the commitment to get better and the growth that our kids have displayed this summer,” Knight said. “We have
—JORDAN KNIGHT MALVERN HEAD BASEBALL COACH
grown in our overall strength, experience, baseball IQ, and ability to make the routine plays with a higher frequency.”
Knight noted, “We pitched two incoming ninth graders in Kyler Wright and Hunter Robinson and both of them competed at a high level—we had great defensive play from Dalen Weaver and great at bats from Maddox Allen, Ben Rock, Tyler Golden, Evan Myers, and [Dalen] Weaver.”
While creating key production from offensive execution in the frame at the plate and base running—defensively to contain and take away their opponent’s attack of execution, Malvern worked well as an effective unit.
Knight thought the concept of team production to compete as a collective unit was the highlight from their summer offseason training.
“This summer I have been able to strategically evaluate and create competition in the line up and at spots where our team needed it,” Knight said. “Competition only makes you better individually and as a team. Our pitching staff has jumped leaps and bounds and defensively we are beginning to put together a strong outfield unit and infield unit,” he added.
“Hunter Adams continues to mature and develop by slowing the game down behind the plate— I call him our “Army Ranger.”
Knight noted, “He is a tough young man, a JROTC kid, and that is what you need in a catcher— A warrior, fighter, and leader.”
Malvern continues to grow as productive athletes on the diamond and their development is enhanced by their focus and dedication they’ve shown this summer offseason.
“The growth we have made this summer has been outstanding and we are right on course with the development of the team,” Knight stated.
“I am excited to continue seeing our team get stronger in the weight room, create a deeper fundamental foundation offensively and defensively, and grow
as a unit.” He concluded by saying, “We are going to cause a lot of teams’ problems next year and I am ready to get back to it after the Dead
Period.”