Toppers open season tonight against Paragould Legion

Toppers open season tonight against Paragould Legion

Experienced infield anchors Marion in the summer of 2016

Sports Editor A revamped roster greets Junior Weaver’s eighth edition of the Marion Toppers during the summer of 2016.

Weaver’s Toppers closed the summer of 2015 out with wins in eight of their last nine outings before rolling to a 37-9 record last year.

However, a lot of the names and faces that helped last season’s edition to that gaudy record have moved on, which leaves Weaver with more question marks that he has had in the past.

“Basically, trying to put together a set lineup every day. We’re still not sure about some guys and where they fit into our lineup,” Weaver explains.

“We’ve had more rain than we’ve had so far in the past. Early on we’re playing a lot of games, and that’ll help us there. We’ll still have a nice lineup.

We’re gonna have some nice left-handed hitters available to us too, so we’re excited about all of that.”

The Toppers are a 19-andunder college showcase team that plays on college campuses in front of college coaches on the weekend, while playing midweek games at Marion’s John Robbins Field.

It’s Weaver’s eighth season as the head coach of the Toppers, but he also spent two summers coaching the West Memphis American Legion team, and he said that while exposure for his players is the main objective, there are a few other key points, as well.

“I like having a chance to coach them and develop them and work with them during the week too,” says Weaver, a native of Helena. “I try to stay away from that showcase tag as much as I can, because that usually means that you’re just showing up on the weekend and playing, but we do a lot more than that.”

In the eight years that Weaver has coached the Toppers, 15 players have signed to play college baseball. This summer, Marion is scheduled to play on at least eight college campuses, ranging from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee to Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The Toppers will open up their 2016 season tonight at 5:30 against Paragould Legion at John Robbins Field, and while nothing is set in stone, Weaver has a pretty good idea of what his Opening Day starting lineup is going to look like.

The veteran coach says that he has the luxury of three catchers at his disposal.

“Behind the plate we’ve got Trent Johns, a catcher from Coahoma Community College. He’s a steady guy, not real flashy. Kind of quiet, maybe a little quieter than I’d like from a catcher, but he’ll get the job done,” Weaver says. “Of course, we have Peyton McElroy back behind the plate and he’s been with us for the past few years.”

Marion’s infield boasts three returning starters from last year, headlined by a third baseman that enjoyed a solid season at West Memphis this spring and is back for his second go-round with Weaver’s summer squad.

“Third base we have Nick Alsbrook returning.

Defensively, he has good hands, we just need a little more with the bat,” Weaver says of Alsbrook, a rising senior. “Shortstop, we have Gavin Stone, a kid from Riverside. He has some of the best hands I’ve seen.

He has some great middle infield actions. He understands the game. I’m really excited about him. Second base, we’re looking at Cam Smith, he’s returning. Nice left-handed hitter who just spent a year at Williams Baptist College and at first base we have a pair of guys: Matt Frazier and Blake Daniels. Daniels’ is slowed up right now with a bit of a sore arm and Frazier is a catcher-first baseman from Riverside who can really hit. He’s got a lot of raw power.”

While the infield depth is exciting for Weaver, the outfield could be a fluid situation all summer long.

The coach says that he has options, but is ready to see who shakes out during the early part of the season.

“Left field is still a bit of a question mark right now, to be honest,” Weaver admits. “Center field, we’ve got Collin Stone from Riverside, who has signed with Mineral Area Community College. Right field is Nolan Smith from Bay. He’s a lefty swinger that can really swing it.”

The Toppers got big 2015 performances on the mound from Marion natives Peyton White and Cody Raymond, but this year the team may do it more by committee, both in the starting rotation and in the bullpen.

“Chris Peet, a right-hander from Coahoma Community College is a guy that I’m excited about,” says Weaver. “He’s a fastball-breaking ballchange guy from Olive Branch. We’ll have Larkey Dotson from Bolton High School. He’s 84-86 or so, and he’s a little guy, but he competes. Then we’ll have Gavin Stone, the shortstop out there. He’s kind of deceptive, kind of long arms, long legs. He makes it hard to see the ball.”

Weaver tabbed Peet to start on Opening Day tonight against Paragould Legion.

The bullpen may see more specialists than anytime in the past.

“Collin Stone is a backend guy who will probably come in from center field and may close for us,” says Weaver. “Nolan Smith is a righty and we’re excited about him with the arm and the bat. We like Parker Benson, who’s out of town right now, but we’re excited about getting him on the hill and letting him go against some younger-type teams. Nick Alsbrook will give us some innings too, as will Preston Nichols.”

Weaver says that he has seven pitchers that he can rely on, but has already lost a key left-hander midway through last week.

“That one hurt us because I thought he could really pitch, so we’re looking to pick up another arm right now,” Weaver says.

Weaver said that Peet will get his work in tonight on the hill, then Collin and Gavin Stone will follow him in from the bullpen while Alsbrook will draw a start in the second game of the night, a five-inning affair.

By Chuck Livingston