The Paragould Rams are looking for improvement and to climb the ladder in the tough 5A East to advance to the postseason. Coach Jacob Giles has some experience returning in hopes of doing just that. Parker Thompson returns at shortstop for the Rams where he has plenty of experience, while Karson Reid, Avery Dearing, and Oliver Earnheart return experience to the field and on the mound. Dearing is a utility player who plays where he is needed when not pitching. He has good swing and miss pitches in his arsenal. Reid patrols centerfield and developed into a good pitcher in late spring and into the summer. Earnheart will catch for these guys and add some depth to the bullpen himself. His bat will have him in the lineup as a designated hitter when he is not in the field. The main key for Coach Giles and the Rams is to focus on what they can control and take one game at a time. With good experience returning, expect to see some improvement for the Paragould Rams, and look for them to battle in a tough 5A East for one of the final spots in the postseason.
The Paragould Lady Rams are looking to get back to the postseason after a 9-16 season a year ago. Coach Marty Williford and his staff believe that they have the experience and newcomers to get it done. Molly McPherson will return to a corner infield spot. McPherson hit. 507 with 32 hits, three homeruns, and 27 RBIs last year. Madison Martin played shortstop and centerfield as a freshman a year ago where she hit. 445. Madi Langston is the returning catcher who has improved her approach at the plate and proves to be a factor in the Lady Ram lineup. Andi Pillow was the designated hitter last season, but should see more time in the field as a senior. Ava Beasley played first base and some outfield last year. She is a lefty bat that has been working on her slapping. Some new faces should provide a boost to the Paragould lineup. Lexis Covington will come in and start in the circle for the Lady Rams. Covington has great command of her fastball and a wicked off speed pitch. She should help at the plate as well with good power. Kinley Glasgow will step into an outfield position where she catches everything. She plays fearlessly and will attack any ball. Brooklyn Key is a freshman that could make a big impact. The lefty will provide some pop to the lineup and help in the circle some as well. Makya McHenry has really impressed the coaching staff this year. She will be very helpful in the field for Paragould this season. Brooklyn Richardson has worked hard on her pitching, and Hadley Luke will see more time on the field this year. Coach Williford likes what he sees in his Lady Rams.“ If we can stay healthy we will compete for a spot in the State Tournament,” he said.“ This group has bought into what our game plan is this year. With an addition of a veteran coach this year, Jarrod Bailey has brought us some much needed excitement to the program. Coach Madyson has our pitchers and catchers working hard. We will be able to put up a bunch of runs and our pitchers will be able to shut some good teams down. Our batting lineup will be a difficult one to pitch around.” Look for the Paragould Lady Rams to battle in the always tough 5A East and compete for a spot in the postseason.
The Newport Lady Greyhounds are moving to the 3A-3 conference and looking to improve on last season’ s 7-13 record. Coach Keely Curtis is hoping several new faces are up to the challenge.“ We have several players who are new to the game and this will be their first season playing,” Coach said.“ We have worked really hard to shift the softball culture here at Newport into a positive, hard working environment. The girls have really committed to putting in the time practicing and learning the game. Our pitching staff does not have a dominating presence yet, so we will rely on solid defense and manufacturing runs on offense.” Players that are returning are Ayden Coffey at a middle infield position with Eliza Rodriguez and Lili Ramirez as a utility player. Lexi Hembrey will see more time in the circle this season with her improved control and presence on the mound. Several new faces will see a lot of time this season. Meagan Davis, Carlene Ford, Eliza Dodson, Perla Gomez, Joshlyn Auston are upperclassmen looking to contribute along with move-in Emma Toddy. Freshmen Rylin Shelton and Madison Stewart are hoping to make an impact on the Lady Hound lineup. With so many new faces, Coach Curtis hopes to see the Newport Lady Greyhounds grow as the season progresses. NEA Sports predicts the Lady Greyhounds will round in form by tournament time.
The Newport Greyhounds finished last season at 14-12 and lost a close game to eventual state champion Gosnell in the first round of the regional tournament. Coach Nathan McCarville will lead his team into a new conference in the 3A-3, and the Greyhounds are hoping to make their way back to the regional and make a deeper run in the postseason. Senior Ethan Norris leads the way on the mound and at the plate. Norris pitched 64 innings striking out 96 with a 2.50 ERA last season. At the plate he hit. 429 with six homeruns, 30 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases. Norris plays shortstop when not on the mound and hits in the heart of the Hound order. Fellow senior Jack Sampson threw 34 innings with 48 strikeouts, and a 3.50 ERA, while junior Luke Reynolds had 31 strikeouts going five for five in saves in 22 innings. Reynolds also caught, played shortstop, and centerfield when called upon. He hit. 340 with 11 doubles and 20 stolen bases at the top of the lineup. Jake Keedy hit. 342 with 10 doubles and 14 stolen bases, while Hayden Tarwater hit. 339 with 21 hits. Sophomore Ryan Burgin earned three wins on the mound and is hoping to expand on his role in the rotation this year. Freshman Easton McGuire is a utility player and someone who could add depth in the Greyhound bullpen. Coach McCarville has a good idea on what it will take to be successful in a tough, new league.“ All we need to do to be successful is play great defense, fill up the zone, and focus on hard contact at the plate,” he said.“ We need to improve with runners in scoring positions and take advantage of those opportunities.” The tradition rich Newport Greyhounds will move into a traditionally good baseball conference and should make some noise. Look for the Hounds to make their presence felt in the 3A-3 and return to the regional tournament with a chance to advance further and make a run at the state tournament.