Diamond Hogs begin fall world series
FAYETTEVILLE - Complete with starting pitching rotations, the Arkansas Razorbacks began Friday at Baum-walker Stadium their fall baseball version of the World Series with intrasquad games concluding their autumn drills.
Friday’s game pitted Greenwood’s Connor Noland pitching against lefty Caden Monke.
Skipping today in deference to the 2:30 p.m. Arkansas vs. Ole Miss football game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Coach Dave Van Horn has Kole Ramage pitching against Caleb Bolden at 1 p.m. Sunday; Zebulon Vermillion vs. lefty Patrick Wicklander at 3 p.m. Monday; Blake Adams vs. Jaxon Wiggins of Roland, Oklahoma, at 3 p.m, Wednesday; and Will Mcentire of Bryant vs. lefty Lael Lockhart at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23.
Van Horn said the position players and relief pitchers have been evenly divided based on experience and their fall production.
Van Horn disclosed that hard-luck repeatedly arm injured left-handed pitcher Hunter Milligan of Greenbrier has been compelled to retire from pitching after his latest re-injury.
“He has had another injury with his shoulder and he’s done,” Van Horn said. “He had surgery in high school and a couple since then and now they are saying he needs to have another one. What a talent coming out of high school and what a great kid, too. I feel bad for him that he never got to show us what he could do here.”
Regarding Noland, entering last season as the No. 1 starter remaining from Arkansas 2018 national runner-up and 2019 College World Series, Van Horn was asked if the right-hander’s Friday start designates him the No. 1 starter.
A little, yes and no on that one. Noland seems to be pitching better than ever but so are several pitchers, Van Horn said.
“Connor is doing really well,” Van Horn said. “He’s really strong and throws a lot of strikes. But he’s not our clear No. 1 - we don’t have a clear No. 1 yet. He’s one of many. I think he realizes there’s a lot of competition and it’s making all these guys work.”
Catcher Casey Opitz, surprisingly not Major League drafted last June, center fielder Christian Franklin and second baseman/possible shortstop Robert Moore return as essentials from last year’s team that started 11-5 before the season was stopped by the coronavirus concerns canceling all spring semester sports last mid-march.
“Obviously Optiz is as good as it gets in the country,” Van Horn said. “He’s a man among boys right now.”
Yet has stayed one of the boys.
“He could have come back in here and been, ‘poor ole me, I shouldn’t be here,” Van Horn said. “He hadn’t been that way at all. Great to see, same ole Casey. Friendly, leading and been fun.”
Junior center fielder Franklin hit .381 with three home runs in 16 games last season.
“As far as the outfield, Christian Franklin is the real deal,” Van Horn said. “Offensively, he can beat you with an infield hit but he can also hit a ball 450 feet and that’s a good combination. He’s a very good center fielder as you know.”
Moore, a freshman phenom last year skipping his high school senior year to play for Van Horn, seemed the heir apparent to Major League drafted shortstop Casey Martin, but could remain at second base with shortstop Jalen Battles arriving from Mclennan Junior College.
Van Horn anticipated Battles being drafted, but like Opitz wasn’t with the COVID19 affected 2019 draft reduced to five rounds.
“I could play either one of those guys at short,” Van Horn said. “I would say probably having Robert at second makes us a better team just because he turns the double play so well. I’ve had a couple of scrimmages where I’ve had those guys together with Robert at second and they’ve turned some really good double plays.”