Senior-laded Arkansas High baseball sets high goals
TEXARKANA, Ark. — The Arkansas High Razorbacks baseball team is loaded going into the 2023 season, with seven seniors returning for their last trip around the baseball diamond.
“We’ve got a lot of experience coming back and we’re looking for some big things out of our seniors this year,” said first-year Razorback baseball coach Trent Wilson, who was the head baseball coach at Class 4A Warren, Arkansas, last year. He also is the Hogs’ defensive coordinator in football.
“Being a new coach to Arkansas High, I’m really excited about our prospects heading into the season. I think we’ll play some exciting, competitive baseball and I want to invite all the Razorback faithful and the entire community to come out and watch the show.”
Arkansas High has a super strong building block in veteran catcher Ty Waid, who has starred for the Razorbacks and Sticks Baseball for several years. Waid has already signed with University of Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn’s Razorbacks, the last of instate selections by the Hog mentor.
Waid has been mainly based at catcher, but he’ll be used in several positions this season, Wilson said.
“Of course, he’ll catch some games for us, but we’ll also use him at shortstop and maybe even in the outfield, too,” the coach said. “He’s so versatile and talented that’s he able to help us wherever we need him. He works hard every day and he’s a humble kid who doesn’t have a big head because he’s headed to the (nationally ranked) Razorbacks.”
Waid is a slugger who also hits for a high average. “We’re counting on him to lead our team this year, and
his leadership is a plus for our team,” Wilson said.
Arkansas High’s other returning seniors include Luke Paxton, Cash Brookes, Jackson Shipp, Trey White, Scott Trumble and Ethan Walker.
Right-handed pitcher Ryan Wardlaw, a junior, also is a key holdover for the Hogs.
“Ryan had Tommy John surgery on his right arm, so obviously he won’t be able to pitch for us this season,” Wilson said. “He’ll probably play some shortshop and middle infield for us as a valuable utility player. He hit a bomb (homer) for us in practice the other day.
“He learned to play tennis with his left arm and he’s still winning matches. He’s an amazing kid.”
All the Arkansas High pitchers are right-handers, Wilson said.
The seniors are expected to lead by example, and not just words.
“We’re certainly loaded with seniors, and the valuable experience they have is one of our team’s strengths,” Wilson said. “Most of them lead by example, but they want to work hard, play hard and finish their high school career as winners.”
Although no other AHS players have signed letters of intent with colleges, Wilson said several have a chance to play at the next level.
The Razorbacks went 1312 last year, and finished 8-6 in the rugged 5A-South Conference.
“Arguably, we play in our of the toughest 5A conferences in the state,” Wilson said. “We’ll have the state’s only nine-team conference, and only the top four make it to the state tournament. And we’ve got some good teams, like Benton, White Hall, Sheridan, Lake Hamilton, El Dorado and Hot Springs Lakeside that can beat a lot of teams in Arkansas.”
Arkansas High’s top newcomers are juniors Nathan Wall and Lee Smith, and sophomore Jonathan Garcia. Wall was quarterback on the Razorback football team this past season. Smith is a transfer from Texas High.
The Razorbacks will open the 2023 campaign Monday, with a home game against Horatio (5 p.m. start).
“We’ll also open conference play Tuesday against Hot Springs Lakeside (and we’ll play them again in the first week of March,” Wilson said. “We normally don’t start conference play until we’re two or three weeks into the season, but we’ll open early this year.”
2023 ARKANSAS HIGH BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Feb. 27 vs. Horatio, 5 p.m. Feb. 28 at x-Hot Springs Lakeside, 5 p.m.
March 2-3 at Liberty-Eylau JV tourney, TBA
March 3 vs. x-Hot Springs Lakeside, 5 p.m.
March 7 vs x-Benton, 5 p.m. March 8 at SWSG Classic, Hot Springs, 3:30 p.m. March 10 at x-Benton, 5 p.m. March 13 at Ashdown, 4:30 p.m.
March 15 vs. Prescott, 5 p.m. March 16 vs. Pleasant Grove, 5 p.m.
March 17 at Genoa Central tourney, 5 p.m.
March 23 at North Little Rock, 2:30 p.m.
March 24 vs. Russellville at Little Rock, 7 p.m.
March 25 vs. Conway at Little Rock, 5:15 p.m.
March 27 at x-Camden Fairview, 5 p.m.
March 28 vs. x-Hot Springs, 5 p.m.
March 30 vs. Ashdown, 7 p.m.
March 31 at x-Hot Springs, 5 p.m.
April 3 vs. Magnolia, 5 p.m. April 4 at x-Sheridan, 5 p.m. April 6 vs. Redwater, 5 p.m. April 7 vs. x-Sheridan, 5 p.m. April 11 vs. x-Lake Hamilton, 5 p.m.
April 13 at Pleasant Grove, 5 p.m.
April 14 at x-Lake Hamilton, 5 p.m.
April 18 vs. x-El Dorado, 5 p.m. April 20 vs. x-Camden Fairview, 5 p.m.
April 21 at x-El Dorado, 5 p.m. April 25 at x-White Hall, 5 p.m. April 28 vs. x-White Hall, 5 p.m.
May 2 vs. x-Pine Bluff , 5 p.m. May 5 at x-Pine Bluff, 5 p.m. May 11-13 State Tournament, TBA
x—Denotes conference games