The Texarkana Bulldogs are ready to win a state championship.
Head coach Cody Engstrom has a roster chock-full of talented pitchers. The Bulldogs have the experience and poise to be successful.
Jake McDonald from Maud, Joe Pearlman from Pleasant Grove and Tanner Vaught from Horatio are some of the best pitchers in the area; they are all Bulldogs.
Pearlman will join the team after Pleasant Grove's run for a Class 4A state championship concludes.
"A lot of these guys have played for me," Engstrom said. "They already know what we expect from them and the routine. Many of the players got a taste of regionals in 2014, and they want to get back to that."
In order for Texarkana to reach the regionals, they must first win a state championship. Last season, the Bulldogs finished fourth at the state tournament. This year, they are looking for more.
"Last year's squad had the best camaraderie I've seen since I've been coaching legion," Engstrom said. "The guys stayed together during long trips and supported each other. They all have good attitudes."
Texarkana is going to need to get good play and keep those good attitudes if they are to win a state championship this season and advance to regionals.
Lavert Paxton, a former Arkansas High standout, and Eron Sonson, a former standout at Texas High, come in from college to compete in their last year of eligibility.
Paxton and Sonson are the two oldest players on the team and are the leaders.
"Lavert has played for me since he was 13," the Bulldog coach said. "He's vocal. Lavert and Eron have been on the team for four years each."
Paxton and Sonson are college freshmen. Paxton attends Arkansas Tech University where he is a redshirt baseball player, and Sonson attends the University of Texas at Austin, however, he does not play baseball for the Longhorns.
Engstrom knows that this year's squad does not have as much power as it did a year ago. The Bulldogs will not have a home run or triple specialist this season. Engstrom is planning on playing solid small ball.
"We have a lot of guys that handle the bat well and play good defense," the Texarkana coach said. "We'll play good small ball this season where we focus on base running and getting some bunts down. I look for the guys to put up a lot of hits and runs in order to put the pressure on the other team's defense."
According to Engstrom, the team will jell well together and has great chemistry.
Other pitchers for the Bulldogs include Logan Hemby, AJ Snyder, Jacob Smith, Jake Whitten and Curt Wells.
Wells and Kyrian Williams will split time at first base. Smith and Cade Thompson will play at second with Pearlman, McDonald and Smith each playing shortstop. Paxton and Layton Henson play third.
Sonson plays in left field as well as Jacoby Ross. Snyder will see a lot of time in center field, and Kyle Choate plays right field. Connor Morton will play some in center and right.
When he isn't pitching, Whitten will be the catcher along with Tristan Brooks.
Assistant coaches are Josh Lacy and Weston Smith along with former players Brayden Ward and Taylor Jones.
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2016 TEXARKANA BULLDOGS
Date=Site-Opponent=Time
May 31=Seniors vs. Juniors=TBA
June 1=Fort Smith Sportsman=5 p.m.
June 3-5=at Texarkana Razorbacks tournament=TBA
June 7=at El Dorado Oilers=6 p.m.
June 10-12=at Texarkana Phil Sandoval tournament=TBA
June 14=Nashville=6 p.m.
June 17-19=at Arkadelphia Henderson tournament=TBA
June 21=at Nashville=6 p.m.
June 24-26=at Louisiana State University-Shreveport/Centenary tournament=TBA
June 28=East Texas Broncos, doubleheader=6 p.m.
July 8-10=at Louisiana Tech/University of Louisiana-Monroe tournament=TBA
July 13=at East Texas Broncos, doubleheader=6 p.m.
July 16-17=at Ada, Oklahoma tournament=TBA
July 21-23=at Texarkana American Legion Area Series=TBA
July 26-29=at state tournament=TBA