EMERSON, Ga. — The Arkansas Rawlings Prospects 2020 comes to the 15u PG World Series with strong pitching, defense and team chemistry. All three showed up in the team’s opener against Baseball Northwest, as the Prospects notched a W in the win column to start the week.
Righthanded starter, Kirby Jenkins threw four innings, giving up two earned runs off five hits with two walks and strikeouts apiece. Shortstop Marcus Brown came in relief for Jenkins and closed out the game, tossing three innings of no-hit baseball with five strikeouts to seal a 4-2 win.
“My circle change was working really well for me, that was my putout pitch today,” said Brown, who played both sides of the baseball equally dominant, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a RBI. “I had some runners in scoring position in some at-bats so I just had to get them home, but I also had to keep the inning going in that two-out single.”
His two-out liner to right kept the first inning alive and gave first baseman Luke Pectol the opportunity to rope a liner to left to bring in the first run of the game.
“Marcus Brown is definitely our team leader,” said head coach Andy Menard. “The kid wakes up ready to play baseball, can’t get enough of it, demonstrates leadership every time he is on the field, and when the game’s on the line, he is the guy I want up to bat.”
Another offensive standout on the day was catcher Michael Connor Flagg, who went 2-for-3 with two singles.
“I like to go middle of the field to [opposite],” said Flagg. “If it’s there, I try to go with it.”
His versatility is another aspect that will help Prospects go deep into this tournament.
“Flagg is just a blue-collar do-it-all kind of guy,” said Menard. “He catches, plays outfield, plays middle infield, swings it, he’s a tough out and grinds out at-bats, just a guy that helps you win baseball games.”
Although both the offense and defense was firing on all cylinders, the biggest piece of this 2020 Rawlings Prospect team is the chemistry.
“The chemistry is really good, I think we are all really good friends and know how to play with each other,” said Flagg. “And we have really good talent. I am surrounded by a bunch of talented people, that strives me to be as good or as better as them.”
This is most of the team’s second season playing together, something they believe will be a determining factor later in the tournament.
“I think the difference between us and a lot of teams down here is team chemistry,” said Menard. “Guys like each other, they play hard, they play well together and they support each other, and I think in this type of environment, that’s what it is going to take to win it.”
Third baseman Cayden Wallace is going into his second summer with the team and echoed the same feelings.
“We have the advantage of all playing together before, so it makes us all better, and we all bond together.”
Wallace is the No. 2 overall third baseman and No. 12 national prospect for the 2020 class.
“The number one things, is as talented as that kid is, he is one of the most humble kids you’ll ever meet,” said Menard. “You would never know that kid is as good as he is if you are just talking to him in a conversation. Polite, well-mannered, brought up the right way, quality, quality young man.”
Wallace looks to project as both a third baseman and right-handed pitcher, showing promise at both the Freshman World Championship and PG Junior National.
“I think the team makes me better, the talent is there and they push me to work harder,” said Wallace. “So if you don’t work, you’re not going to be able to play a position. So you have to put the work in.”
The Arkansas Rawlings program is located in North Little Rock and is one of 12 organizations across the Midwest.
“Obviously talent is what everyone is looking for, but we also look for quality young men to be a part of a team, and it’s not just about them, these guys are really humble, selfless guys, and I think that’s a huge separator because you don’t see that every day on the baseball field,” said Menard.
During the 10 years of program history, Rawlings Prospects has seen 145 alumni go to the draft, and commit to college programs like Arkansas, Dallas Baptist, Vanderbilt and Oral Roberts. The rising sophomore class here at LakePoint is following in the program footsteps with three already committed to Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee.
“We just have some serious talent and want to [compete against each other],” said Brown. “[And when you have that] you’re going to be a super stud team.”