Bulldog Basebal Spring Preview

FAYETTEVILLE — After a multi-year run of 7A-West Conference dominance, the Fayetteville baseball Bulldogs might have a hard time keeping up the recent string of record-setting success this spring. The Purple’Dogs enter the new season as three-time defending conference champions in the 7A-West, winners of 43 straight regular season games in league play dating all the way back to the end of the 2012 season. Fayetteville made back-to-back trips to the Class 7A finals from 2013 and 2014, winning the championship most recently in 2013. And despite falling short with a semifinals loss to Conway last season, the recent run at the top of the 7A-West was still mighty impressive. But now with a massive overturn in the roster, as many key players from that 2012 to 2015 run have graduated, Fayetteville will look to keep the tradition going with a few holdover pieces and many new faces. Lefthanded pitcher Joey Savin takes over as the top ace. Savin was one of many top arms for Fayetteville last season, but is now left as the one true pitcher with experience this season and the senior will be counted on in a big way to carry the Bulldogs on the mound this spring. Dallas Baptist signee Thomas Broyles was a regular starter last year and should be a top bat, as will junior Barrett Banister. But beyond that, the Fayetteville lineup will be filled with mostly inexperience on the varsity level, particularly on the pitching mound. As far as Fayetteville goes, tradition runs deep. But expecting the Purple’Dogs to keep up their dominant pace of recent years might be a bit too much to ask.

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BULLDOG BASEBAL SPRING PREVIEW

VERNON TARVER

ARPreps.com | 2/29/2016

PHOTO CREDIT: Fayetteville Athletics