Summer development key to SouthArk’s success
(Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of stories highlighting South Arkansas College's 2024 baseball season.)
With summer in full swing, a plethora of South Arkansas College freshmen have been working diligently in several summer leagues around the country.
Two years ago, Beau Kuttenkuler and Jackson Regan used stints in the Natural State Collegiate League to become stalwarts on SouthArk's squad that went to the NJCAA Division II World Series in 2023.
For SouthArk coach Cannon Lester, he is hoping history will repeat itself.
“I think of guys like Jackson Regan and Beau Kuttenkuler who played in that league,” Lester said. “They were two guys who redshirted, and on next year's team, they were glue. Jackson was probably our second guy out of the bullpen, and Beau was big the first year and really big this year.
“Those were two guys that honestly, I told them that I didn't see them playing much here, but they found something. They found confidence, they found what they needed to work on. That success and confidence really carried over to the fall, and showed that they had a chance to contribute in new ways and they did.”
Ty Simonelli hit 10 home runs for the Stars this spring, but when he began his college career at Bossier Parish (La.) Community College, he was a pitcher, and that has been a focal point for him this summer.
“We've always known he could throw,” Lester said. “He has a really good arm. I think he had the most outfield assists. I think in the fall when we were doing our testing, I think he pulled down 93, 94 miles an hour. They said his first outing, he was 88 to 90, and he was 88 to 91 and topped at 93 and was filling it up in his second outing.
“He went to Bossier as a pitcher, and they let him be a two-way. Last year, he just wanted to play in the field and hit, so we never really explored that option. In our meetings at the end of the year, he was like, ‘I think I'm going to pitch.' We told him that we have a lot of pitchers coming in and you're probably not going to pitch, and he said, ‘OK, I still want to pitch.' He got on the mound some, and I was like, ‘Well, if you're throwing that hard and filling it up, we might give you that chance to pitch.' I think he's excited
about maybe a relief role for us next year.”
A redshirt freshman, Simonelli has been playing with D5 Baseball, which also has freshman catcher Gavin Murphy on the squad, as well as incoming freshmen Canyon Compton, Logan Ponder and Eli Callendar.
“I think they're doing really well,” Lester said. “We told Gavin to limit his time behind the plate so his body can recover.”
Staying in Louisiana, some players have made their way to Shreveport, including freshman Bryce Lopez, who began the summer in the Prospects League before switching leagues.
“He's getting a few more innings down here,” Lester said of Lopez. “I know he threw really good on Sunday. He went four or five innings and gave up one run. He's a really big lefty that needs to throw.”
Lester added that freshman Austin Tarpley has also been pitching in Shreveport. Freshman Connor Pierce has made three relief appearances for the Cape Catfish in the Prospects League.
“He's gotten to throw the ball a little bit,” Lester said. “I know it's been a really good experience for him up there.”
Several Stars are also competing in the Natural State Collegiate League.
“It's starting to turn into a really good league,” Lester said. “Seth Gray has been throwing there, and I know some of our guys will go and fill in every once in a while. It's been a good haul for some of them and a good learning experience for some others.”
Lester said freshman Kelvin Battles is expected to play for Texarkana in the Mid-America League beginning this weekend.
“He's going to go pitch and play in the field for the rest of the summer,” Lester said. “He's been working on that. He wanted to get back on the mound and be a two-way again, so hopefully he's going to get some innings at the end of the summer. Battles probably didn't get as much time maybe on the mound or in the field that maybe he deserved, but the upside is huge. Hopefully he takes a step up.”
Lester said the summer will be crucial for several players who didn't get many at-bats or log many innings on the mound.
“Connor Pierce and Bryce Lopez are two left-handed pitchers that I think could be really monumental in our success next year,” Lester said. “Lopez can be a difference maker. He has one of the best left-handed curveballs I've ever seen. A guy like Seth Gray from Jacksonville didn't get to throw much for us this year, but the stuff is unbelievable. Hopefully they can really take that step forward in their progressions this summer.”
In addition to Simonelli and Battles working both as position players and pitchers this summer, Lester mentioned freshman Tanner Powell as another to keep an eye on.
“Powell is our best baserunner,” Lester said. “He's 6-foot-6 and right now he's 200 pounds. I think he's going to come back at 220. He has really good handeye coordination. We talked about it in our meeting that he's a power hitter, but he doesn't know it yet.”
The mental side of the game is also something Lester sees as a separator for Battles, Powell and Simonelli.
“Tanner, KJ and Ty, they're all Division I players,” Lester said. “I think it's going to be the mind that separates them, so hopefully we can really work on the mind because talent-wise, they're going to be there with anybody.”
And while several SouthArk standouts are playing this summer, one that is spending time in the weight room is Ryan Ursery.
A freshman left-hander who collaborated with Luke Eaton on SouthArk's first-ever no-hitter, Ursery has had a quiet offseason after throwing 83 1/3 innings while going 11-4 with a 3.89 ERA.
“He's been taking it easy on the throwing,” Lester said. “He's put on a little weight this summer, and that was kind of the main thing with him. He's really been getting in the weight room.”
Lester added he may take a similar approach with Ursery in the fall as he did with Brett Foss last year.
“Foss got sick when he came back and that was a setback, but leading up to that, I think we threw him through the first week of October and then shut him down until December,” Lester said.
“We might do something similar with Ryan just to see where he's at and where his body is at. It ended up working out great for Foss. They combined for almost 200 innings, so a lot of miles and throwing, but they held up well. Hopefully we can continue that and keep building on last year's success.”