Panthers hope pitching develops this season
If the team’s pitching develops, the Heber Springs Panthers could have a season to remember. Jeff Bise’s team finished 21-9 last season, including 11-1 through combined conference 3A/4A District 7; third in the 4A-2 District Tournament and fourth in the Class 4A East Regional. As the fourth seed from the East, Heber fell to Monticello, third from the South, 7-0 in the opening round of the Class 4A State Tournament at Lonoke. “We lost a lot of our pitching,” said Bise, in his 24th season overall and 10th as head coach at Heber Springs. “I told our kids if we can throw strikes, I think we can be competitive, but we lost two-thirds of our innings pitched last year.” Three of those graduated Panthers are playing college baseball this year — Pierce Mitchum at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Andrew Bradshaw at Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, and Clayton Cox at Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock. “I hate to use the word ‘rebuilding,’” Bise said. “I’m still optimistic. We graduated eight seniors last year, but I feel like we’ve got young talent.” Leading the Panthers into 2018 is senior Jacob Blasingame, who has signed with Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, the coach said. “He’s a first baseman/outfielder, and this year, he’ll have to pitch a little bit,” Bise said. Offensively, Blasingame recorded 37 hits in 92 at-bats, stole 9 bases, walked 12 times, struck out 6 times and hit .402 — second among the Panthers and the top returning average. He also delivered a home run. Other returning starters include senior pitcher/center fielder Jacob Bremmon, .284, 23 hits and 11 stolen bases; senior catcher Brandon Loethen, .297; senior pitcher/outfielder Seth Jenkins,who allowed 39 hits and 9 walks and struck out 40 in 41.3 innings; and junior third baseman Nick Chaney, .313 and 21 hits. Bise said Bremmon, who will play football and maybe baseball for Hendrix College in Conway next year, has the team’s best arm, with the ability to throw in the low 80s. Jenkins is the best pitcher. “He throws two or three pitches for a strike,” Bise said. “He has the most experience. In 41 1-3 innings, he stroke out 40, allowed 39 hits and walked 9.” The coach said junior shortstop Jackson Huskey, who moved in from Bentonville, has the potential to be the Panthers’ best fielder.
“He’s been well coached in the past,” Bise said. “He’s very fluid and smooth, and he swings the bat very well. He gives me a left-handed batter. He fits in and is a fine young man.” Bremmon and Stephen Wilson, another newcomer, have the best speed. Both Huskey and Wilson could see action on the mound, the coach said. “If our pitching develops, I think I can put a competitive defense together, and we have nine or 10 guys who can hit it,” Bise said. “I think high school baseball is about throwing strikes. “If we can do that, we have a chance to go far.” Team strengths? “We’ve got 10 or 12 who can play and contribute,” Bise said. “They can play multiple positions, which helps. Over the years, I’ve been blessed with kids who want to play hard. I’ve been fortunate to coach them.” The team’s major weakness as the season begins is the lack of proven pitching, the coach said. “I feel like I’ve got a couple of freshmen who are going to contribute and a couple of sophomores who will, too,” Bise said. “The more people I can get to contribute and develop this year, the easier it will be for us to continue our tradition.” In their blended conference, the Panthers will face Bald Knob, Cedar Ridge, Harding Academy, Mountain View, Newport, Riverview, Rose Bud, Southside Batesville and Tuckerman. To reach the Class 4A State Tournament, they’ll have to finish among the top four in the 4A-2 District Tournament, which will also include Baptist Prep, Central Arkansas Christian, eStem, Lonoke, Riverview, Southside Batesville, Stuttgart and Helena-West Helena Central. “Southside and Riverview will be big games for us,” Bise said. “Harding Academy won the [Class 3A] State Championship and graduated one player, but it’s high school baseball — on any given day, anybody can beat anybody.” Bise said the team’s college prospects include Blasingame, Bremmon, Loethen, Huskey and Chaney, “if they want to bad enough.”