Cards land 3 on Allstate Tourney team
HASKELL — The Arkansas Activities Association recently released its picks for Allstate Tournament Teams throughout each class.
In 3A, Harmony Grove will have three representatives, following the first state championship win in program history.
Among them are title game MVP James Mccormick, slugger Jared Toler and catcher Cooper White.
Mccormick served as the team’s ace in 2019, and finished as one of the top pitchers in the state with an earned run average below 1.00.
In the state tournament, he shined as well, finishing with a win and 15 innings of work where he allowed three earned runs (1.40
ERA) on 11 hits while striking out 21 and walking four.
“He gets better every year,” said Head Coach Brandon Mynhier. “He started as a freshman and did some good things for us. Came back as a sophomore and was able to get a bunch of very good innings in, and then this year, to take the lead and the role of the staff ace and go out every game and put everything on the line. To start every playoff round to make sure we get to the next level. He would come out and deal.
“He is an amazing young man and works hard in the summer to improve his craft. He is going to be a steal for whichever college ends up taking him.”
Toler, an Arkansas State commit as a junior, also continued his hot stretch into
postseason play, finishing with five hits in four games, scoring six times and driving home eight. He also would homer during the tournament.
“It is definitely awesome to have him for another year,” Mynhier said. “He started the year at short and played great there. Then moved over to third and he embraced it and played incredible.
“He came on hot late and smashed the baseball at each level of the playoffs — when we needed it. He is just a clutch guy and is going to be very good at A-state. They have a great pickup there.”
White controlled the pitchers from behind the plate and help lead as a hitter, racking up six hits and a pair of RBIS in the four games for Harmony Grove.
“He doesn’t get enough credit,” Mynhier said. “We have great pitching and one of the reasons we have great pitching is because we have a great catcher. That guy calls an incredible game. He keeps hitters off-balance and can throw hitters outs — blocks pitches in the dirt. He is such a huge reason why we are so good on the mound. We have pitchers that trust him and rarely shake him off.
“He is such an underrated guy back there and a quiet leader. He goes about his business, works hard and gets the job done.”