By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Call it an opportunity, a chance to make a name for themselves.
Months after the Conway High School baseball team graduated eight seniors after a successful spring, there is not much varsity experience going into the 2022 season. However, coach Clay Bilyeu rightfully looks at it in a positive way.
“I don’t think we are a favorite to win our conference or district,” Bilyeu said, “but I think we can be competitive every night out and that we have the ability to really shake up the conference or district races.”
The Bears finished 17-5 last season and won the Summit Conference. Six players who earned postseason honors of some sort were among the departures. That included Chase Caffey, a first team All-State selection.
This year, Bilyeu anticipates about 12 players on the varsity roster.
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Pitching staff
Look for the starting pitching staff to lean on junior Troy Replogle, sophomore Cade Archer and freshman Brixon Bilyeu.
Replogle pitched nine varsity innings last season, striking out 11. Archer pitched 1.2 innings
“Troy was our JV ace last year and will look to lead our rotation this year,” Coach Bilyeu said. “Cade is our only other pitcher with any varsity experience. He did have a great fall season, and we look for him to really give us some quality innings this spring. (Brixon) did pick up some experience this fall and had success that hopefully he can carry over to this spring.”
Relievers could be senior Alton Mackey, Jake Maxwell, Isaac Freeman and Nathanial Rice.
“Alto has some JV experience, but a back injury as a sophomore limited him on the mound throughout the last two years,” Bilyeu said. “He has the potential to really be a difference-maker for us on the mound this spring.”
Lineup
Bilyeu emphasized that Conway doesn’t know what its lineup might look like, as that will become clearer during the preseason.
Catching will be Brixon Bilyeu, Maxwell and Freeman. Mackey and Graves could see time at first base, while Kaleb Doing and Quinton McGuire may play second base. Archer and Bilyeu could anchor shortstop. Replogle, Caleb Graves and McGuire could play third base.
In the outfield, Conway can turn to Devon Caselman or Replogle in right field, with Rice in center field and Freeman in left field.
Archer saw some time at designated hitter and shortstop last year. Replogle was a starter in various positions, and Rice started a lot in the outfield.
“Replogle is our most experienced player and was a full-time starter as a sophomore and has the most varsity pitching experience,” Coach Bilyeu said. “(Rice) has played defensively quite a bit over the last couple of years, but this will be his first time as a full-time starter. Cade was a significant contributor for us as a freshman but mostly as a DH. We will need him to be a top arm for us, as well as play shortstop.”
Executing the fundamentals will be the key.
“I feel like we have athletes and the ability to play well defensively,” Coach Bilyeu said. “If we can throw strikes consistently, I think we can be very competitive.”
Conway opens the season on March 18 at Waynesville.
“We know we are young and don’t have a lot of varsity experience,” Coach Bilyeu said. “Our focus is to be as competitive as we can each day and keep getting better throughout the season.”
