Arkansas Baseball Academy on Channel 11/ Today's THV

Baseball: All Year Round

Baseball is a year round sport now, and Carl Martinous with the Arkansas Baseball Academy stopped by Today's THV to talk about upcoming events.

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The First Annual Arkansas Baseball Academy Fall Showcase at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas is a huge success!

After the monsoon that the Central Arkansas Area received on Friday, October 9, the showcase was still a success. The weather was suppose to be sunny with the temperature in the upper 60's, but it was cloudy and cool with the highs in the 50's. Even though the conditions were not ideal, 90 players from around the state showed up to show their talents on the field at beautiful Dickey-Stephens Park (where the Arkansas Travelers play). The Arkansas Baseball Academy coaching staff were very excited to have 10 in-state college coaches and the area scout for the New York Mets make it out to watch juniors and seniors from the state of Arkansas show their skills.

The Arkansas Baseball Academy would like to thank Frank and Barbara Battisto from the Dixie Cafe for providing food for the hospitality area for the college coaches and the scout from the New York Mets. We would also like to thank the sponsors: MK Distributors, Martinous Flooring, The Mortgage Bank of Arkansas, and Banana Graphics.

We would especially like to thank Greg Johnston, the Park Superintendent/Head Groundskeeper, for having the field near perfect playing condition on the field with all of the wet weather Central Arkansas received the past week as well as Pete Laven, the general manager for the Arkansas Travelers, for giving us permission to play at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

Next up: Sunday, October 18 a round robin tournament at both Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State vs. the Arkansas Select and the Arkansas Express.

Rain continues to be the nemesis of the Arkansas Baseball Academy

The rain has once again cancelled games for the Arkansas Baseball Academy. Coach RJ Thomas called Friday afternoon to say that the Hendrix Baseball field was under water by the rain.

Next up: The first annual Arkansas Baseball Academy Fall Showcase at Dickey-Stephens in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Rain continues to wreak havoc on the Fall schedule

Sunday, October 4 at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas has been cancelled due to steady rain all day.

Next up: Saturday, October 10, the Arkansas Baseball Academy will have a one game scrimmage at Hendrix College; and on Sunday, October 11 - the Arkansas Baseball Academy First Annual Showcase at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

Arkansas Baseball Academy continues their annual trip to Crowder College

The Arkansas Baseball Academy began the day competing against their in-state prospect team rival, the Arkansas Express. Chris Oldner from the Arkansas Baseball Academy pitched very well against the Express, but some miscues in the outfield helped the Arkansas Express to pull the game out. CJ Engle, senior catcher from Benton, had an exceptional game behind the plate and at the plate. CJ Engle threw runners stealing and was clocked at 1.9 from the pop of the mint to his release to second base. CJ Engle was 2 for 3 with 2 triples, but CJ and Chris Oldner's effort fell short against the Express losing the game 10 to 7.

The Arkansas Baseball Academy came back at the 3 o'clock game to face their friendly in-state rival the Arkansas Select. The game started out as a bang from the Select as jumped on the Arkansas Baseball Academy early, but CJ Engle came back in the second game to pitch and ultimately quite the Select. As CJ Engle took control of the game from the mound, the Arkansas Baseball Academy went to work offensively by piling a total of 21 runs at the end of the game. The game was halted after the sixth inning with the Arkansas Baseball Academy winning the game 21 to 12.

Next up: Sunday, October 4 at the University of the Ozarks against the Arkansas Express

Back on the Field at Arkansas Tech

After the cancellation at Lyon College, the Arkansas Baseball Academy played a doubleheader against the Arkansas Express playing 2 nine inning games. The two organizations agreed to play a showcase style game, which would theoretically showcase the skill of each player off to the Arkansas Tech coaches. After the first game, the showcase style of play seem to work okay, but by the middle of the second game it became evident that the showcase style game really doesn't work.

The one thing we learned from that experience is that we will never attempt to do style of play again. We feel that it is better to play the game of baseball because we felt that we lost teaching points of the game and lost the focus of just having fun playing baseball.

All-in-all, the players looked good and the Arkansas Tech coaches were very complementary toward the players of the Arkansas Baseball Academy. We definitely would like to thank Coach Dawson and Coach Titus from Arkansas Tech for being gracious enough to allow us to play on their field.

Next up: Saturday, October 3rd at Crowder Junior College, Neosho, Missouri; Sunday, October 4 at University of the Ozarks.

Rain continues to reschedule Fall schedule

Saturday, September 26, the game versus Lyon College's Junior Varsity team has been postponed until October 24 due to the most unusual wet and rainy Fall. Coach Holmes called to say they haven't been able to get on their own field because for the past two weeks it has been under water.

Next up: versus Arkansas Express at Arkansas Tech University on Sunday, September 27.

Louisiana Monroe Tournament washed out

Gametime Academy's tournament at Louisiana Monroe has been cancelled due to heavy rain. This was a new tournament and college to visit for the Arkansas Baseball Academy, but there is always next Fall.

Next up for the Arkansas Baseball Academy: On Saturday, September 26, the Arkansas Baseball Academy will play a doubleheader versus Lyon College's Junior Varsity team. On Sunday, September 27, the Arkansas Baseball Academy will play a doubleheader versus the Arkansas Express on the campus of Arkansas Tech University and this game will consist of 2 nine inning games.

Arkansas Baseball Academy is tested at Arkansas State

The Arkansas Baseball Academy played the best of the best from the Midwest at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The tournament had three organizations competing to showcase their players in front of college coaches. The three organizations were the Arkansas Baseball Academy, St. Louis Gamers, and Dulin Dogdgers from Memphis.

Coach Matt Whiteside from the St. Louis Gamers said that he was impressed with the talent and play from the Arkansas Baseball Academy. Coach Whiteside also runs the Team USA - Midwest team, so he was part of the selection process for choosing Jackson Lowry and Taylor Wallace to be a part of Team USA in the Midwest.

Next up for the Arkansas Baseball Academy: Arkansas Baseball Academy is heading to Monroe, Louisiana to play in a tournament hosted by Gametime Academy out of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Getting started for the Fall of 2009 at UCA

The Arkansas Baseball Academy starts the Fall of 2009 season with a doubleheader with Pulaski Tech's Club Team on the University of Central Arkansas' baseball field on Sunday, September 6 the weekend of Labor Day. This is the first year that Pulaski Tech started baseball and they will do it by started having a club team. We are excited to see that the local two year school of Pulaski Technical College is starting a baseball program, and we are hoping that it will grow into a full fledged Junior College Baseball team.

The games were a success as both teams competed hard as the coaching staff from UCA looked on with hope of finding a player or too for next years squad.

Next: Arkansas Baseball Academy will travel to Jonesboro, Arkansas to play in a tournament that is being put on by the St. Louis Gamers out of St. Louis, Missouri.