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

By Kevin Bohannon 

SBLive is looking at the best high school baseball players in Arkansas by position. Today, we feature the top middle infielders across all classifications. This position is usually reserved for some of the most athletic and this year is no different. Players who play multiple positions might be featured on other lists. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list as there are hundreds of great middle infielders statewide.

Photo of Taylor's Preston Smith by Tommy Land 

Kaleb Kellar | Springdale Har-Ber | SR

Kellar came up big for the Wildcats in the biggest game of the year driving in a run out of the leadoff spot in the state championship game. Coach Dustin Helmkamp will miss the leadership next season. Kellar will play baseball at the next level but is undecided on a school. 

Sam Reynolds | Wonderview | SR

Reynolds is taking his talent to UCA next season and left his mark at Wonderview. Reynolds led the Daredevils to a regional championship this past season and did it all for his team. One of the best athletes in the state, he will do big things in college.

Rece Hipp | Rose Bud | SR

Hipp played a big part in laying the foundation at Rose Bud. Coach Taylor Cooper will miss his senior leader in the middle next season when he is playing basketball for Henderson State. Hipp hit .292 this season with 18 runs batted in and logged 20.2 innings on the mound for the Ramblers who made their second straight district championship game.

Drew Vega | Dardanelle | SR

Vega wrapped up his career as one of the most decorated Sand Lizards in history on the gridiron and the diamond. Vega led Dardanelle to a regional championship game and quarterfinals of the state tournament. Vega was selected to play in the AAA All Star football and baseball games at UCA.

Matthew Guffey | Salem | SR

Guffey was a two-time all-state selection for the Salem Greyhounds and will participate in the AHSCA All Star game at UCA. Guffey will play next season at SAU Tech

Jack Runsick | Greenbrier | SR

Runsick was a big piece of Greenbrier’s run this season to the state tournament. Coach Garrett Bock called him the ultimate leader on and off the field. Runsick earned all-state honors this season and will play collegiately for JUCO powerhouse Eastern Oklahoma State.

Kelvin Battles | Sylvan Hills | SR

Battles has been a mainstay the past two seasons for the Bears. He hit over .300 once again and played well defensively leading Sylvan Hills to another state tournament. Battles turned out to be one of the Bears’ best arms this season running his fastball up to 92 MPH.

Preston Smith | Taylor | SR

Smith was one of the biggest reasons Taylor won their second straight class 1A state championship. He played six different positions for the Tigers, hitting .493 with 6 home runs and 39 RBI. Smith will play next season for SAU.

Logan Hope | Benton | SR

Hope saved his biggest performance of the season for his last game. He shut out Valley View for six innings before giving up back-to-back hits. Hope was big for Benton all season in the middle of the infield.

Evan Booe | LR Catholic | SR

The Rockets were very young this season and should be very good for the next few years. These younger Rockets learned a lot from Evan Booe over the last two years about how to conduct themselves in preparation for big games. Booe was very smooth up the middle defensively and was clutch at the plate when needed.

Cade Bowman | LR Christian | JR

What can be said about Bowman that hasn’t already been said this season. He made every media outlet’s all-state team including first team infielder on the SBLive all-state team after hitting .490 for the 5A state champions. He had the game winning hit and was named MVP in the 5A championship game.

Kyler Hoover | Harding Academy | JR

Hoover was named the MVP of the 4A state championship game after collecting a couple hits and driving in three runs for the Harding Academy Wildcats. He earned all-state honors once again and came up big on the mound for the Wildcats this season. Hoover committed to Harding University this past spring.

Landon Melnychuk | Stuttgart | JR

Melnychuk led the Ricebirds this season with a .439 batting average. He also had 12 doubles and 23 RBI, leading the Ricebirds to a conference championship. On the mound, Melnychuk had a 1.61 ERA over 34.2 innings with 40 strikeouts and only 11 walks.

Cutter Colvert | Lonoke | JR

Colvert hit .453 for the 4A state champion Jackrabbits and is possibly the most underrated player in Arkansas. He hit 4 home runs with 34 RBI and played a solid second base for Lonoke.

Blaize Ward | Maumelle | SO

Ward has a big bat and a big arm. He will be a 90 MPH arm by the end of the summer and projects well at the next level. It is hard to believe he still has two years of high school baseball left. Maumelle won the first state tournament game this season and Ward was a big reason why they advanced to the semifinals.

Landon Carter | NLR | SO

Carter is a speedy leadoff with good pop in the bat. He was recently clocked at 6.39 in the sixty-yard dash which is one of the fastest times in the state this season. Carter will play for Sylvan Hills next season.

Carter Nye | Bentonville | JR

Nye has played in two straight state championship games in two years of high school baseball. He hit .301 and was named 6A West all conference this past season. Nye, the BHS starting quarterback, provided some big hits for the Tigers from the middle of the lineup again this season.

Landon Schaefer | Fayetteville | SO

Schaefer has been a big presence in Arkansas high school baseball for two seasons now. He had two no-hitters on the mound for the Purple Dogs including against Catholic in the opening round of the 6A state tournament. He also had a walk off home run against Northside this past spring. Schaefer is ranked as one of the top 2025 players in the nation by Perfect Game.

Derek Hatcher | Alma | SR

Hatcher was named 5A West all-conference for the Airedales this season. He started his senior campaign with a two-run home run and kept hitting all season. Hatcher is committed to ASU Mountain Home.

Drew Gartman | Valley View | SO

Gartman was a first-year starter for the Blazers earning all-conference honors and made the SBLive all-underclassmen team after hitting .340 with 25 stolen bases.

Bryce Walls | Rose Bud | JR

Walls future may be on the mound but he was big at the plate for Rose Bud this season. Walls hit .429 for the Ramblers with 5 doubles and 21 RBI earning all-conference honors.

Griffin DuVall | Brookland | JR

Duval is committed to play for Arkansas State but still has one more year of high school baseball. Duvall led the Bearcats to the semifinals of the 4A state tournament this past season. He hit .750 in the state tournament and was one of Brookland’s best hitters this season.

Shaun Cover | Conway | FR

Cover is the only freshman on the list after hitting .461 for the Wampus Cats. Cover earned all-state honors with 14 doubles and 32 RBI.