Yellowjackets look to returning starters for improvement
Mountain View finished one game short of advancing to the Class 3A State Tournament last season, and with six returning starters in 2018, the Yellowjackets look to qualify this year. Curtis Sims’ Yellowjackets finished just 6-18 last year, but they knocked off Yellville-Summit in the opening round of the 3A-1 East District Tournament, 17-14, to secure their trip to the Region 3 Tournament at Manila. They lost to Clinton in the district semifinals, 6-1, and to Melbourne in the third-place game, 7-6, to take a No. 4 seed into the regional. At Manila, though, Mountain View’s season ended with an 8-4 loss to Riverside. But a good group of seniors, including four returning starters, have Sims a bit optimistic this spring. “We always look to better the last season,” said Sims, in his fourth year with the Mountain View program. “This year is no different.” Back to help with that effort are senior pitcher /first baseman Heston Coon, senior outfielder Tanner “Smoke” Buchanan, senior catcher Blake Posada, senior outfielder/pitcher Trevor Leonard, junior pitcher/infielder Gunner Willis and junior third baseman Drew Adams. Sims said he expects Leonard to be the Yellowjackets’ best hitter for average. As a junior, he hit .246 with 16 hits, including 1 home run, 9 RBIs and 13 runs scored. Posada is the best power hitter. Last year, he had 13 hits and 9 RBIs with 15 runs scored. Sophomore Kollin Kendrick is the best fielder, the coach said. In just four games as a freshman, he hit .600 (three-for-five) and had a fielding percentage of 1.000. “He is the brother of Peyton Kendrick, now playing at Central Baptist College, and [Kollin] looks to follow in his brother’s footsteps and play a big role in Jackets baseball,” Sims said. Buchanan and Willis have the best speed, with sophomore Blake Crymes the best arm, the coach said. Coon is Mountain View’s ace. At the plate last season, he hit .247 with 18 hits, 15 RBIs and 8 runs scored. On the mound, he was 2-0 with a 4.2 ERA. In 65 innings, he struck out 69 and walked 50. Expectations are simple: “Make the state tournament,” Sims said. Team strengths, he said, would be the good group of seniors. However, the Yellowjackets have “no depth.” Mountain View will compete in combined classification 3A/4A District 7 with Bald Knob, Cedar Ridge, Harding Academy, Heber Springs, Newport, Riverview, Rose Bud, Southside Batesville and Tuckerman. Games to watch? “Any district game,” Sims said. To advance to the regional action, the Yellowjackets must reach the semifinals of the 3A-1 East District Tournament, which will also include Bergman, Clinton, Green Forest, Marshall, Melbourne, Valley Springs and Yellville-Summit.