By Chris Parker
Conway baseball has had back-to-back seasons with records under .500. This year’s version of Conway Bears baseball is looking to break the streak with nine starters and 11 lettermen returning from 2023’s 13-14 team.
“We have been a young team the last couple of years, starting multiple freshman and sophomores but this year we are junior and senior heavy,” Conway head coach Clay Bilyeu said. “I want us to take our mindset from just competing and putting ourselves with a chance to win to finishing games and expecting to win every night.”
Seniors Isaac Freeman (pitcher/utility) and Cade Archer (pitcher/utility) will be the team’s captains for a second season in row.
“They both have a lot of varsity experience and have lettered since their freshman year,” Bilyeu said. “They have great relationships with their teammates and do whatever their team needs.”
Freeman hit .257 posting a .433 on-base percentage with 28 runs scored and 18 stolen bases last season. Archer was .263 at the plate driving in 20 runs and scoring nine more.
Joining Freeman and Archer on the pitching staff will be Brixon Bilyeu (junior), Gentry Bilyeu (sophomore), Easton Jones (freshman) and Jackson Gunter (junior).
Coach Bilyeu on Freeman: “Isaac is a true pitcher. He’s not going to overpower you but can hit his spots and change speeds effectively. He has thrown a lot of innings for us at the varsity level the last two years.”
Coach Bilyeu on Archer: “Cade’s fastball is in the upper 70’s but it’s his movement that makes him really effective. Last year, he was recovering from a broken hand and never got back up to his full potential, but we look forward to him being at 100% this spring.”
Coach Bilyeu on Brixon Bilyeu: “He has been our No. 1 since his freshman year. He is our strongest arm and also has a good curveball, slider, and developing changeup.”
Coach Bilyeu on Gentry Bilyeu: “Gentry threw quite a few innings for us last year as a freshman and had a lot of success. He is a guy we can use as a starter or a reliever and he just always seems to get the job done.”
Coach Bilyeu on Jones: “Easton is a big-time arm for a freshman. He has a fastball that can sit around 80mph with a good curveball and changeup and just a good feel for competing on the mound. He will step in and be one of our top arms from the start.”
Brixon Bilyeu threw a team-high 42 innings with 70 strikeouts in 2023. He was also the team’s top hitter with a team-best 1.374 OPS 34 RBI and 29 runs scored. He also accounted for all three of Conway’s home runs.
Freeman was second on the team in innings pitched with 38 which was also his strikeout total. Gentry Bilyeu threw 34 innings with 29 strikeouts. Archer had 22 innings pitched and 28 strikeouts.
Jackson Gunter (junior), Tyler Vaughan (senior) and Brady Rogers (senior) will all see innings this season as well.
“They all have good stuff and if they can be consistent in the zone they will have a chance to see several innings in our busy schedule,” Coach Bilyeu said.
Junior Jake Maxwell will be tasked with catching the deep pitching staff.
“He was an honorable mention all-state catcher last spring,” Coach Bilyeu said. “If he needs a day off or we have to use someone else it will likely be Isaac Freeman or Brixon Bilyeu.”
Maxwell is more than just a key cog of the defense. He hit .422 with a 1.127 OPS and 28 runs scored. All three marks were second on the team.
Mason Miller (junior) will be at first base. Freeman and Quinton McGuire (senior) will play second. Brixon Bilyeu and Tyler Replogle (junior) will hold down shortstop. Jones and Gentry Bilyeu round out the infield alignment at third base.
Vaughan (left field), Archer (centerfield) and Gunter (right field) will be in the outfield. Evan Peters will be the fourth outfielder capable of playing all three spots. Rogers could also see outfield time.
“We had several guys that took a good step forward from last spring to this past fall season, especially offensively,” Coach Bilyeu said. “I feel like we have a deep pitching rotation and very athletic defense, but we need to get better offensively for us to take the next step. If we can do that we will be in the hunt for a district and/or conference championship.”
Conway opens the regular season on Mar. 15 at Waynesville.
