Abrupt season finales prompt college ball preparations

Baseball season had a record of 5-2 before their season came to an abrupt end. Conference was just around the corner with their first game against Bentonville.
Their season was cut short due the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arkansas Athletic Association banned athletic events for the rest of the school year on March 13.
“We were 5-2 and looking to start conference play against Bentonville,” second baseman, senior Rally Miller said.
Miller will play baseball for Hendrix College next year. He will play second base or outfielder next year.
“The season was starting off great, we did lose some games, but that’s what will help us down the road,” middle infielder and centerfielder, senior Samual Stephenson said.
Stephenson will attend Arkansas Tech University next year to play baseball and will play the same positions. Shortstop, senior Hunter Wood will play football and baseball at Missouri State University.
“I’m missing my senior year of baseball,” Wood said. “I’ve never looked forward to a baseball season as much as I did this one and to have it taken away from you really just hurts.”
The seniors explained not finishing this baseball season will not affect college next year a whole lot.
“I miss everything about baseball,” Miller said. “I miss my teammates and coaches the most. We were a family and it’s hard to be away from your family for so long. I’ve been playing baseball all my life, so I don’t think not finishing the season will affect me in college,” Miller said. “I’ll still train over the summer and get my work done in order to be prepared for practice in the fall.”
He has continued to train at his house with friends and his friends houses with benches and squat racks. He has also been throwing a baseball with his dad at home. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has guaranteed all spring sport athletes on the team an extra year of eligibility. Although incoming freshmen are not given the same.
“I don’t know exactly how much that will affect me. It’ll definitely affect me getting on the field quicker. I reckon then I’ll have to try and go beat out a couple seniors to play,” Wood said.
Wood also has been training at home with no weight workouts. As well as hitting at indoor facilities and playing catch in his backyard.
“I believe there are seniors that will try to stay and play but coach Daweson is a fair person and it doesn’t matter what year they are, he’s gonna put the better person on the field,” Stephenson said.
According to Stephenson, some seniors will try to stay but the coach at Arkansas Tech is a fair person.
“I have been doing at home workouts that are pretty strenuous,” Stephenson said. “I’ve been throwing everyday or every other day. I will go to the cages to put in work whenever I can and I have been on a pretty solid diet considering I have absolutely nothing else to do.”
Although Miller took his senior year for granted he now apprentices everything he got to do. Many coaches told him to enjoy it while it lasts.
“I’m proud to say I did enjoy it while it lasted and I’m so grateful I have the opportunity to play in college,” Miller said.