Majestic Park to host wealth of DI talent, MLB scouts
Majestic Park is set to host the Southwest Sporting Goods Classic Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We will have two days of games,” Majestic Park general manager Derek Phillips said. “It is a tournament that started in Arkadelphia in 2016 where SW Sporting Goods worked with the local parks department to invite teams to come and play in an annual high school tournament that were SW Sporting Goods clients.”
The SW Sporting Goods Classic is a resurrected tournament that has an interesting concept developed by director Neil Groat. The tournament features high school teams across the state of Arkansas, featuring Division I caliber players on their rosters.
“I had the idea of putting a tournament together to help professional scouts bring all the teams with the guys they needed to see to one location,” Groat said. “I pitched the idea to some pro scouts that I knew and they said, ‘Yes absolutely, that would be very helpful to us.’ So, we brought the tournament back and the name with the support of SW Sporting Goods, and we put it together in its new form for the first time in the spring of 2020.”
This tournament does not come with a trophy. However, in the stands at last year’s SW Sporting Goods Classic were 25 of the 30 Major League Baseball teams’ scouts.
“Part of the inspiration for the tournament is can we help scouts and bring all those guys to one location,” Groat said. “If it is a kid they need to see one time they can. If it is a high level prospect they can bring in their boss and maybe a scouting director. They can knock out the entire state as far as prep players are considered in a couple day period.”
Last season the tournament was held on the campuses of the University of Arkansas Little Rock and Central Arkansas.
Majestic Park was chosen to host the tournament and hopes to host in future years.
“I think it is really cool,” Phillips said. “Groat has a really awesome schedule for the future. I am excited about having it. Now it is back in a little bit different of a form and it is here at Majestic Park. We have a showcase high school tournament. There will be part of it here every year moving forward. It can be bigger or smaller from year-to-year. We want to have it here for years to come, and we will accommodate this tournament.”
Groat said he is already talking to teams for the 2024 and 2025 tournaments knowing Majestic Park is now part of the
rotation.
“They are really excited about it,” Groat said. “They were either there for the state tournament last year, seen or heard about how nice it is. It is great that people are excited about it.”
One game will be played Monday on the campus of UCA between Jonesboro and Little Rock Christian due to travel distances.
Little Rock Christian’s senior catcher Charlie Carter is committed to Oklahoma State, and Jonesboro has a junior pitcher in Lance Davis who is committed to the University of Arkansas.
Majestic Park games will be played on Babe Ruth Field.
Tuesday, Harding Academy will be in a double header, facing Greene County Tech in game one at 3:30 p.m., and Little Rock Christian for game two.
Harding Academy senior Kade Smith is an infielder who is committed to the University of Arkansas.
Greene County Tech has senior Hutson Guinn at shortstop, and he is committed to Louisiana Tech.
Wednesday, Rose Bud will play Texarkana at 3:30 p.m., and Conway takes on Camden Fairview
for the later game. Game two each day will start 30 minutes after game one has concluded with an estimated start time of 6 p.m.
Conway senior Hugh Hill is a left-handed pitcher and is committed to play for the University of Richmond.
Texarkana catcher Ty Waid is committed to the University of Arkansas.
Rose Bud’s sophomore pitcher Russ Martin is also committed to the University of Arkansas.
“Down the road the 2025 class in the state of Arkansas is very talented,” Groat said. “There are six kids all in the top-200 nationally who play for Arkansas high schools.”
The University of Arkansas’ future will be on display, showcasing five committed players. Rounding out the future Razorbacks is verbal commit senior Martavius Thomas from Camden Fairview.
Teams that are listed for multiple games such as Harding Academy and Little Rock Christian have skill position players with DI offers to get them multiple at bats.
The teams slated for only one game are the schools that have pitchers who have signed DI commitments so arms do not get overused.
“No pro scouts live in the state of Arkansas,” Groat said. “Most of them live in Kansas City, Dallas or Oklahoma, but have Arkansas as part of their territory; 90% of their work is probably at the University of Arkansas. Randomly they need to see these high school kids all over the state. That was part of the inspiration for the tournament.”
Majestic Park was chosen by Groat for its turf fields and new facilities.
“Without having a home team, we are at the mercy of trying to find a facility,” Groat said. “I like the thought of it being played on turf because with weather concerns we would not have a home team to pull a tarp. Majestic having turf, new facility and the willingness of their staff to accommodate our needs has been terrific. The teams are excited to come to Majestic as well.”
The high caliber of competition arriving at Majestic Park Tuesday and Wednesday is adding to Hot Springs’ booming baseball tradition.