Southwest Sporting Goods Classic returns

A number of Major League Baseball scouts and team representatives are expected to be on hand today when Day 2 of the Sporting Goods Southwest Classic kicks off at Majestic Park in Hot Springs.

The three-day event officially began Monday with Jonesboro, led by junior pitcher and University of Arkansas commit Lance Davis, taking on Little Rock Christian and Oklahoma State commit Charlie Carter, at Bear Stadium on the University of Central Arkansas campus. But the next two days of the prestigious showcase will be held in Garland County at a historic site that once hosted Major League Baseball spring training games in the early 1900s as well as the Negro League World Series in 1952 — an event that featured the late hall of famer Hank Aaron.

Several NCAA Division I high school players, many of whom have either signed or committed to programs, will take the field in today’s doubleheader when defending Class 3A champion Harding Academy and Razorback commit Kade Smith face a Greene County Tech team that features Louisiana Tech signee Hutson Guinn, at 3:30 p.m. Harding Academy and Little Rock Christian will meet at 6 p.m. or 30 minutes after the opener.

On Wednesday, sophomore Russ Martin, another Arkansas commit, leads Rose Bud against Texarkana at 3:30 p.m. The Razorbacks, too, have a player who’s heading to Fayetteville next season in catcher Ty Waid. The final game of the classic will pit reigning Class 6A champion Conway, with Richmond signee Hugh Hill, playing against Camden Fairview, paced by Razorback commit Martavious Thomas.