Arkansas' best high school baseball players: Meet the state's top catchers

By Kevin Bohannon 

With high school baseball season is in full swing, SBLive is looking at the best players in Arkansas. Today, we feature the top catchers across all classifications. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list as there are hundreds of great catchers statewide.

Ty Waid | Arkansas High | SR 

I could put Waid on about four different lists this season, but since he has signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks as a catcher, we will put him on this list. Waid is one of, if not the best, power hitters in the state of Arkansas and maybe the region. He leads the state in home runs (10) and has drawn more intentional walks (15) than anyone in the state. Waid is a big reason Arkansas High sits atop the 5A South standings this late in the season.

Zachary Steele Eaves | Lonoke | JR

Eaves has made a case for being one of the best two-way players in the state. He tossed a perfect game against Pulaski Academy this month. When he is not pitching, he is behind the plate shutting down the opposing team’s running game. Eaves is committed to Arkansas

Lawson Ward | Valley View |JR

One of the best pure catchers in the state. Ward exploded on to the high school scene last year with a power bat and rifle arm earning all-state honors for Valley View. His best game of the year so far was a 4 for 4 outing with five runs batted in against Benton in a 17-1 win.

Caleb White | Mount Ida | SR

I feel like Caleb White has been in school for eight years now. White has played three sports his entire high school career. After a successful senior season on the gridiron, White has the Lions playing good baseball right now. They are ranked No. 4 in our latest rankings after a runner up finish to the host team at the Wonderview Daredevils classic.

Lucas Jackson | Fort Smith Southside | SR

Jackson is a very good baseball player. He is an even better student, evident in his commitment to play baseball for Columbia University next season. Jackson had a big time in the desert for the Mavericks during their spring break tournament. In his last game he went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in. For the season, Jackson is hitting .319 and leads the team in doubles (7) and runs batted in (14).

Nolan Belcher | Walnut Ridge | JR

It is not easy walking in the footsteps of a high school baseball legend in northeast Arkansas. It is even tougher, when that legend is your dad and head coach but Nolan Belcher is carving his own path and leaving his mark at Walnut Ridge. In Belcher’s last 10 games, he is hitting .536 with three doubles, a triple and a homerun. The Bobcats are tied with Melbourne in conference play at the moment.

Rowan Christensen | Bentonville | JR

I heard the name Rowan Christensen early last spring after Sylvan Hills visited Bentonville. Former Bears coach Denny Tipton said Christensen was one of the best in the state no matter what the classification. He shut down the Bears running game that night and by May he was playing in the state championship. Rowan hopes to take the Tigers one step further this season.

Aidan Adair | Rogers Heritage | SR

Adair has been one of the biggest reasons for the culture change at Rogers Heritage. He has a pretty good mentor in head coach Brian Walker, a former Razorbacks catcher. Adair led the War Eagles to the state semifinals last including an upset of crosstown rival Rogers. Heritage has now won 16 straight games since losing their first two games to open the season. In a recent win over Southside, Adair was 3 for 3 with a homerun and three runs batted in. I don’t expect this team to be an easy out this season.

Beck Jones | Harrison | SR

Jones led the Goblins to the 4A state championship last season. He caught three full games in 24 hours playing solid defense and hit .363 in the state tournament. An offseason injury has limited Jones this season but he has worked hard post-surgery to get back on the field. Jones has committed to play at State Fair (Okla.) Community College next season

Brock Billingsley | Shiloh Christian | SO

Billingsley saw action as a freshman last season when senior Caleb Anderson emerged as one of the top shut-down pitchers in the state. When you can create a highlight tape of runners being thrown out, you know you have done part of your job as a catcher. Head coach Josh Salsbury has been quoted as saying, “Good catchers can receive, throw people out, and are tough as nails. Great catchers are all of the above, understand the game and love to compete. Brock is all the above.”

Charlie Carter | Little Rock Christian | SR

In the past eight seasons, LRCA has only had two starting catchers: Cason Tollett and Charlie Carter. Both started as a freshman and both of them signed with power five schools their senior year. That is about where the similarities end, however. Carter is a “silent assassin” on the diamond with a smile that can be seen from the international space station. Coach Brandon Eller has been fortunate to have Carter the last four years and thinks he could be a college catcher right now.

Drake Aycock | Lonoke | SR

Aycock has emerged as a very good catcher. The young man has work ethic that high school and college coaches dream about. While splitting time with Steele Eaves, Aycock learned other positions so he could stay on the field. Aycock is a solid two-hole hitter on one of the best teams in the state. Aycock and Eaves have only allowed two passed balls this season and have thrown out 6 of 10 runners.

Dalen Blanchard | Magnolia | SR

Blanchard is a rare four-year starter for the Panthers. He led Magnolia to a state runner-up finish in 2021 and hopes to get back to the state playoffs this season. Blanchard starred at quarterback for the Panthers in the fall and his leadership skills are evident on the diamond. Dalen is committed to Southern Arkansas University.

Paxton Flagg | Greenbrier | JR

Flagg earned all-state honors as a sophomore for the Panthers. You don’t see many catchers hitting leadoff but with Flagg’s propensity to get on base with an advanced plate discipline, that’s where head coach Garrett Bock has had him the past five games. Is it a coincidence the Panthers have won five straight games and are undefeated in conference play with Flagg hitting leadoff? Maybe, but it looks like a great move for the time being.

Caleb Johnson | Camden HG | JR

Johnson and the Hornets are on a mission this season. After being ranked all last season, the team did not make the state tournament. Harmony Grove is off to a great start this season with a 15-4 record. Johnson has shown his versatility this season by playing games at shortstop as well. Over the last 10 games, Johnson is 17 for 28 (.607) with eight runs batted in.

Carter Alexander | Bigelow | JR

Alexander was a big part of the Panthers state runner-up team last season. He also plays football and just won a state championship in basketball. The Panthers have only played three games so far this season, but Alexander is off to a hot start at the plate going 2 for 3 with two doubles in the last game for Bigelow giving him three doubles on the season.

Jack Stockton | Greenland | SO

Stockton looks the part of a catcher at 5-foot-9 and weighs 205 pounds. Pirates head coach Jordan Larkan has the utmost confidence in his sophomore and Stockton has produced all season. He is hitting .500 with an OPS of 1.214. He has six doubles on the year and 15 runs batted in. If his offensive numbers aren’t enough, teams haven’t tried running too much this season but when they do, failure is inevitable. Stockton has thrown out six base stealers this season.

Landon Holzhauer | Fayetteville | SO

If you are a starting catcher and hit in the middle of the lineup in the 6A-West as a sophomore, you have a bright future. Holzhauer has done a great job for the Purple Dogs this season. He was the other part of the battery in Jaison Delamar’s no-hitter against Northside. Holzhauer has homered twice this season including a monster three run shot against Van Buren last week in Fayetteville’s 14-2 win.

Grayson Johnston | Maumelle | SO

Johnston has grown up fast this season getting to catch two futureazorbacks and another future college pitcher. He is part of the youth movement for the Hornets that has them in the hunt for a 5A Central championship before heading to the state tournament. Johnston let his bat do the talking in a doubleheader sweep of Vilonia this past week. He launched a homerun in game one and was 2-for-3 in game two.

Wyatt Brown | Perryville | JR

Brown has been named all-conference twice in his young career and honorable mention all-state in football and baseball. Brown has been the offensive catalyst for the Mustangs this season with 21 runs batted in through ten games. He also homered in back-to-back conference games. Heading into spring break, Brown was 12 for 18 (.632) and led the team with six doubles.