Arkansas' best high school baseball players: Meet the state's top outfielders
By Kevin Bohannon
SBLive is looking at the best high school baseball players in Arkansas. Today, we feature the outfielders. These players possess tools college coaches look for in a standout player. Arkansas has produced some very good outfielders the past few years who have gone on to success in college. This is a stellar group of players that usually play more than one position on their team. 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 players statewide.
Photo of Lonoke's Jaxon Ingle by Tommy Land
JT Melson | Rogers | SR
Melson had a great career for the Mounties. He saved his best season for his last season as he made all-state and SBLive All Arkansas second team as an outfielder. He had a perfect fielding percentage and hit .392 on the year.
Kade Gobel | Greenland | SR
Gobel led the Pirates to the second round of the state playoffs and a conference championship this season. He led Greenland in most offensive categories including a .473 batting average, 44 RBI, 12 doubles and 26 stolen bases.
Tripp Campbell | Arkadelphia | SR
Campbell made waves as a pitcher his junior year and took his offensive game to a higher level this season. The lefty hit .422 with 10 doubles. On the mound, he went 5-1 with 92 strikeouts and a 1.55 ERA. Campbell injured his hand in the regional tournament and was unable to be effective in the state tournament. He had a great career for the Badgers.
Carston Poole | Prescott | SR
Poole led the Curley Wolves to the state tournament once again. This season he sparked his team to an upset on No. 2 Elkins in the first round. The decorated quarterback on the football field earned all-state honors again in baseball this season.
Zeb Allen | Southside | SR
Allen did all he could for the Mavericks this year. He ran down fly balls in the outfield, tossed complete games on the mound and produced runs at the top of the lineup. Allen was one of two team captains this season and will play next season for the UCA Bears.
Brennan Browning | HS Lakeside | SR
Browning and the Rams almost stopped Little Rock Christian’s title run before it even started. They led 2-0 going into the last inning. Browning played a big role this season for the Rams earning all-state honors. He will play for UCA next season.
Chris Miller | Dardanelle | SR
Miller helped lead Dardanelle to the regional championship game and quarterfinals of the state tournament. He was one of their top arms on the mound as well. He is also an outstanding student, evident by his scholarship to play baseball at Dartmouth next season.
Martavius Thomas | Camden Fairview | SR
Thomas will leave Camden Fairview as one of the most decorated athletes in school history. He will be remembered alongside Brandon Davis and Shawn Andrews which is big company. Thomas will play next season for HBCU Grambling University.
Aiden Kennon | Greenwood | SR
Kennon did more on the mound this season than in the outfield. He earned all-conference and all-state honors for the 5A West champion Bulldogs. Kennon hit .292 and drove in 15 runs while going 8-0 on the mound with a 1.19 ERA with 66 strikeouts.
Dax Webb | Brookland | JR
Webb earned first team SBLive All-Arkansas honors by hitting .481 with 19 extra base hits and 24 stolen bases. Webb also contributed on the mound running his fastball up to the upper 80s. Webb hit .635 during the state tournament leading Brookland to the semifinals.
Slade Caldwell | Valley View | JR
The best all-around player in Arkansas had one of the best seasons in Arkansas history. The SBLive player of the year hit .512 with 5 home runs 54 runs scored and 40 stolen bases. The Ole Miss commit also went 7-1 with 72 strikeouts on the mound. Caldwell will participate in the prestigious MLB Professional Development Program this summer.
Webb Watson | CAC | JR
Watson had back-to-back all-state seasons for the Mustangs. He led them offensively with 6 home runs and 31 runs scored while hitting .375. He is committed to play college ball for the Memphis Tigers next season.
Jackson Kirchner | LR Christian | JR
A special two-way talent that has scouts drooling. Kirchner hit .421 with 15 extra base hits this season. He got the win in the state championship game with a fastball that sat 90-92 MPH. In a doubleheader sweep of Maumelle, he had three triples and drove in five runs. Kircher is committed to play for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Dax Goff | Booneville | JR
Goff accomplished rare feats in his junior season for Booneville. He became the first player in school history to rush for 2000 yards during the fall. He was just as good during baseball season hitting .556 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI earning all-state honors and first team SBLive All Arkansas honors.
Brooks Ward | Catholic | JR
Ward took his game to the next level this spring. After hitting .337 as a sophomore, the speedy outfielder hit .478 with 6 home runs and 26 RBI to lead the Rockets. Ward also is a very good defender with a .974 fielding percentage.
Alex Downing | Bentonville West | JR
Downing was a Swiss army knife for the Wolverines this season. He played five positions this season with majority of the time coming in the outfield. He has the size at 6’2 and swings it well from the left side. Downing earned 6A West all-conference honors hitting .343 this season.
Jaxson Ingle | Lonoke | JR
The only player to hit a home run during the weekend of champions at UCA came from the 5-foot-9 speedster. Ingle was a triple threat hitting .387 with 4 home runs and 34 RBI, striking out 86 hitters as a pitcher, and not committing an error in the outfield.
Grant Karnes | Greenwood | SO
The SBLive Uncerclassmen of the year and a standout wide receiver, hit .386 with 4 doubles and 25 runs scored for Greenwood. He was 8-1 on the mound over 56.1 innings with 74 strikeouts and only 17 walks. Karnes is considered one of the best athletes in the 2025 class with all-state honors in football and baseball.
Elias Payne | Benton | SO
Payne has a bright future for Benton. Head coach Mark Balisterri is very high on Payne and his abilities calling the sophomore and “elite defender” with “elite speed”. Payne hit .304 in his first year as a starter and will see that number go up next season.
Brandon Vaughn | Greenland | SO
Vaughn is another player that made waves on the gridiron as well as the diamond. He had 10 interceptions in the fall for the Pirates, earning all-state honors and hit .425 with 20 RBI and 30 stolen bases this spring.
Owen Roach | Valley View | FR
Roach was one of three freshmen to start for star-studded Valley View this season. He hit .365 with 7 doubles and 21 RBI. He earned 5A All Tournament team honors with six doubles in his first three games of the tournament. He already has earned MVP honors this summer in a tournament for his travel team.
