The Southside Southerners enjoyed a 20-12 season last year, and earned a trip to the 4A State Tournament. This season, with several returning players, Coach Adam Winter hopes to have similar success in a new conference. The Southerners move into the 4A-6 with traditional powers Stuttgart and defending state champion Lonoke, but Coach Winter and his squad are up for the challenge. A core group of seniors lead the way for Southside. Cam Foree returns to the top of the lineup for the Southerners. The All-State selection hit. 351 with 29 RBIs scoring 28 runs. The utility defender will serve as one of the top arms in the pitching rotation. Foree has a mid-80s fastball with a tremendous curveball. Classmate Jaden Passmore will play shortstop and hit in the three hole. Passmore hit. 284 with 22 RBIs and 29 runs scored last season, and will also serve as a closer for the bullpen. He uses a three pitch mix to control the game and keep hitters off balance. Passmore struck out 34 in 29 innings of work last season posting a 2.30 ERA. Outfielders Jace Hatfield and Zeb Anderson are back to provide a couple of left handed bats to the lineup. Hatfield hit. 234 with 17 RBIs last season and can hit leadoff or ninth to roll the lineup over as a second leadoff man with a. 425 OBP. Anderson had a. 609 OBP and scored 13 runs last season. Junior Devan Hightower should move up the lineup this season after hitting. 231 with 15 RBIs and 29 runs scored last year. The second baseman will provide depth to the rotation after a breakout season on the mound in 2024. Hightower pitched 62.1 innings posting a 1.70 ERA striking out 71 using a low 80s fastball and a sharp slider. Classmate Brady Wood will man first base and return to the cleanup spot in the lineup. Wood hit. 263 with 23 RBIs and 24 runs scored. Senior Jaxon Hatfield has worked hard in the off-season on his breaking ball and should use a three pitch mix to earn some innings for Southside. In 39 innings, he struck out 45 with a 3.50 ERA last year. Transfers Owen McLaughlin and Blaine Baxter should factor into the lineup somewhere for the Southerners, as will senior Blaine Baxter who sat out last season. Junior Wyatt Bishop will play a big role taking over catching duties. Coach Winter knows what his team will need to do to continue their success.“ We have to beat teams with our identity,” Coach Winter said.“ That ' s small ball, timely hitting, filling up the zone, and making the routine play. Our guys do a great job of creating momentum in a game that sometimes can be hard to find. They constantly bring energy, they challenge each other every day in practice, and they want to win more than anything. Last year we got a little taste of success, this year we have an entirely new team but the goal is the same. I love these guys, and I ' m excited to see what they can do in 2025.” Look for the Southside Southerners to continue their recent success this season.
The Southside Lady Southerners finished 9-13 last season and earned a trip to the regional tournament. This year, Coach Lexi McClellan and her squad are moving into a new conference where they hope to improve on their record and make a deeper run in the postseason. Southside has several key pieces returning to reach those goals starting in the circle with pitcher Carlee Duncan. Duncan had an outstanding season last year, recording 139 strikeouts, bringing her career total at Southside to an impressive 317 strikeouts. She has good velocity with a lot of movement on all her pitches to challenge opposing hitters. Chaney McCance will anchor the lineup as either the three or four hole hitter. McCance has caught the last few seasons, but could transition to the field. McCance, along with Duncan( 17 RBIs), Kylie Roberts( 10 RBIs), and Abby Trucks( 13 RBIs), has been a key contributor to the Southerner offense, collectively driving in 57 runs. Sydney Canard has been a vital part of the bottom half of the lineup, consistently delivering in clutch situations as a powerhouse hitter. Kaitlyn Roberts has been a strong performer in the designated player( DP) position, contributing significantly with her bat, and Leslie Crenshaw can cover a lot of ground in the outfield. Freshman Leighsa Belli, is stepping up to join the high school team and has proven to be a top hitter during the offseason, while fellow 9th grader Abbi Barnes will strengthen the base running efforts of the Lady Southerners. Alyssa Haigwood, along with sophomore Bailey Caddy will make a big impact when they return to the team after basketball season. Coach McClellan likes the versatility of her team.“ While we have the strength in both our batting and pitching, the flexibility that we have with several of our players may lead to changes early in the season as we work to find the right fit,” Coach McClellan said.“ Once we identify the ideal defensive structure and solid middle infielders, we will be a tough team to beat.” The Southside Lady Southerners should enter the new 4A-6 conference with a chance to compete at the top. Look for the Lady Southerners to get back to the Regional tournament and be a tough matchup in the postseason.
Coach Michael Holland and the Tuckerman Bulldogs move into the 2A-2 conference in hopes of improving on last year’ s season and getting back to the regional tournament. The Bulldogs have plenty of experience and talent to get the job done. Senior Andy King returns to lead Tuckerman. King logged the most innings as the ace of the Bulldog pitching staff and can play in the infield or outfield when not on the mound. Fellow senior Andrew Nichols will also help on the mound and at the plate as an infielder. Junior Kade Keton completes the battery behind the plate. Keton will do most of the catching but will add depth to the bullpen and could play some in the infield. Sophomore Caden Templeton was second on the team in innings pitched and looks to be a major factor in the rotation. Templeton can play where needed when he is not pitching. Sophomores Bronx Holland, Dawson Worthington, Camryn Reed, and Bryce Herring all add depth on the mound. Worthington will help behind the plate along with joining Holland and Jordan Watson in the infield. Reed will roam the outfield, while Herring and Holland are utility players that can help wherever needed. Senior Ty Nicholason should provide more contributions this season along with junior Luke Cross, sophomore Matthew Cross, and freshmen Cameron Ford and Austin Morgan. Coach Holland is excited about his team.“ We are excited that we have 8 of 9 starting players returning,” he said.“ Pitching will be a strength with so many returning arms and adding Jr. Luke Cross to the mix. We hope that hitting will improve with this core group of sophomores that experienced a great deal of plate appearances last season.” With a core group of returners leading the way, the Tuckerman Bulldogs should be a factor at the top of the 2A-2 conference. This will get them to the regional tournament with a chance to advance into the state tournament in May.